The pulp and paper industry is a largely unsung hero in our tech-focused world. However, without the industry, e-commerce would shut down immediately due to a lack of packaging materials. Moreover, paper is a crucial material for tissues, towels, personal hygiene, and medical care products. As for pulp, it’s used for creating plywood, lumber materials, and high-quality papers. Needless to say, pulp and paper producers are here to stay, though the industry is currently in the midst of taking the next step in its evolution.
From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to now, there’s been a seemingly never-ending array of supply chain hindrances. From staff shortages to rising freight costs, and a shortage of raw materials to war in Europe, a slew of issues is negatively affecting logistical capabilities. While some of these issues have carried over from the worldwide pandemic, others have only recently surfaced in 2022. Making the necessary pivots to remain viable will necessitate companies to get clued in on all the latest global supply chain trends. Remaining out of the loop will lead to a failure to improvise, which will result in a loss in customer loyalty when demands can’t be met on time.
As pointed out in the blog post Government Issued ID: Key Trends to Know Before Green Lighting New Projects, the government Identification (ID) market was largely spared from the global semiconductor chip shortage. While demand for government-issued smart cards is growing and will continue to keep growing, thanks to most COVID-19 travel restrictions being lifted, this also means smart card personalization players will face relentless competition. Gaining market share boils down to succeeding in four key areas: personalization flexibility, advanced printing technologies, additional security features, and scalable solutions.
The benefits of digital transformation in manufacturing should be pretty clear. Like other Industry 4.0 applications, digitally transformed manufacturers possess greater speed, agility, and scale for operations. Equipping plants and facilities with technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and other connected devices unlocks a goldmine of operational information and, ultimately, a competitive edge. Only with a fully digitalized approach can manufacturers defeat the army of challenges confronting them today.
Like virtually every other industry, the telecommunications (telecom) industry has been affected by current macroeconomic and geopolitical trends (war in Europe, high inflation, global warming, etc.), causing doubt about the future of their enterprise. In some areas, the influence of these key telecom trends may not be as severe as you’d think, but in other areas, there are some radical departures taking place. To help operators and ecosystem players understand the effects of ongoing global challenges, and how to plan for the future, ABI Research has compiled some of the most important developments surrounding the telecoms sector.
The information found in this post comes from ABI Research’s Commercial Telematics market data report.
Creating a smart environment is impossible without a thorough, real-time awareness of conditions and fluctuations within a building. And sensors are a key component in gathering the required real-time intelligence. After the enduring impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic, commercial building management systems are held to new standards as many companies transition back to the office. For example, occupancy sensing is important for designing smaller, more flexible workspaces for hybrid environments.
One of the key trends emerging in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) industry is the advancement of high-precision GNSS, which is capable of delivering centimeter-level accuracy. Some of the applications where high-precision GNSS solutions are being used include automotive, commercial Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), precision agriculture, surveying, robotics, and heavy machinery navigation. To deliver high-precision GNSS location positioning, implementers and solution providers must seriously pay attention to chipset diversification, the application of corrective services like Real-Time Kinematics (RTK), and sensor fusion.
Few would argue that providing last mile delivery services wouldn’t improve customer satisfaction. But without last mile tracking, a carrier could quickly find its supply chain in disarray. Retail giants like Amazon, Walmart, and Ahold Delhaize have raised the bar for customer expectations. They expect greater autonomy, more accurate tracking information, same-day delivery, next-day delivery, and curbside pickup.
In 2019, the micromobility industry (shared scooters, bicycles, and mopeds) saw a healthy spike, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, adoption was negatively affected. However, forecasts are optimistic yet again, with some markets experiencing a 240% increase in ridership. Due to higher gas prices, many people are seeking new means of transportation. Moreover, last-mile delivery, which often makes use of scooters and bicycles, is an ever-growing industry. By 2027, ABI Research expects the shared micromobility vehicle installed base to reach nearly 45 million and to be an almost US$9 billion market opportunity.
