Demanding customers – customers are more informed than ever and demand products that fit their exact needs at competitive prices. This means having the ability to capture customer requirements effectively and drive mass customization, enabled through tailor-made products in a "pay as you go" and usage pricing model.

New competitors on the playing field – industry boundaries are blurring, industrial manufacturers are being boxed in from suppliers moving up the value chain and customers moving down the value chain. Industrial manufacturers must redefine their core strengths and capabilities and learn to create value in industry value networks.

Globalization and right shoring – companies shift resources, production and financial funds around the world in a flexible way to make the best use of the regulations and location advantages.

Digitalization – digital is the new norm; digitalization of products, processes and services creates opportunities and challenges. Industrial manufacturers use digital technologies to create new value for their customers and to run efficient and resilient processes. Industrial manufactureres provide the digitally enabled equipment so other companies can innovate their business. They also spearhead innovative processes themselves, using the digital capabilities of the equipment they use.

Their opportunity lies in two areas: topline revenue growth through better and more differentiated products, and bottom-line cost savings through more-efficient and more-effective processes.