An explanation of Industry 4.0 use cases

In this video, Ben Clossey, a customer success enablement specialist at TechTarget, talks about Industry 4.0 use cases.

Industry 4.0 is here. What does that mean in the real world?

Industry 4.0 is all about cutting-edge technologies -- such as AI, internet of things and cloud computing. They work in tandem to enhance industrial processes and maintenance. But how does it impact the way we work and live?

Here, we'll talk about the main uses cases of Industry 4.0 today.

Industry 4.0 isn't just the latest tech buzzword. It's a dramatic upgrade from the last big industrial upheaval -- Industry 3.0 -- at the end of the last century, when mainframes and other large computers were implemented in offices and factories.

Today, Industry 4.0 uses smaller devices and more advanced software across a variety of industries:

1. Factory-floor production lines are a key Industry 4.0 use. Here, an IoT device collects data on a machine's performance and sends it to AI-based software in the cloud. There, it's analyzed and alerts are sent to factory managers when equipment is in danger of failing or needs maintenance.
2. Retail is another place Industry 4.0 tech is emerging. Data on customer movements in stores and their purchases is collected and analyzed in real time. Alerts then let store managers know what products to stock and where to put them.
3. In food service settings, sensors collect data on temperature, humidity and other environmental stats that can help prevent inventory spoilage and other issues.
4. In logistics, companies use devices to track products as they move through the supply chain, sending out location data to ensure products reach buyers on time. This data is collected from anywhere with an internet connection, then typically analyzed and stored in a cloud platform.
5. And finally, cybersecurity. More internet-connected devices than ever before also mean more security risks, which is another opportunity for Industry 4.0. Algorithms can detect network security anomalies, such as cyberattacks and stop them in their tracks.

Two small problems, though: Industry 4.0 devices and software aren't cheap or simple to use. As a result, adoption is a challenge for small and midsize businesses. However, with continued innovation of hardware like semiconductors, and as companies lower prices to compete with competitors, this technology will eventually become cheaper, easier to produce and more accessible overall.

How is your organization using or considering using Industry 4.0 technology? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to like and subscribe, too.

Cameron Hashemi-Pour is a technology writer for WhatIs. Before joining TechTarget, he graduated from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and received his MFA in Professional Writing/Communications. He then worked at Context Labs (BV), a software company based in Cambridge, MA, as a Technical Editor.