GRP： 数字化转型，让钢铁行业在全球市场中竞争立于不败之地
Neraca.co.id, 11 September 2023
The IT Director of PT Gunung Raja Paksi (GRP), Felix Sugianto, emphasized the importance of digital transformation in the steel industry. One of the key reasons is to enable the steel industry to compete in the global market.
"The steel industry is facing a challenging digital transformation era. In order to stay competitive in the fierce global market and meet the demands of consumers who are increasingly environmentally conscious, steel producers need to adopt new technologies," Felix said to the media today.
Regarding the important role of digital transformation, Felix cited data from ABI Research. According to this data, Felix mentioned that steel producers' investments in digital transformation are expected to grow at a 10.9% CAGR between 2022 and 2031, reaching US$5.9 billion. "Meanwhile, Gartner's 2023 CIO Agenda Insights for the Manufacturing Industry also reveals that 80% of CEOs in the manufacturing sector are increasing their investments in digital technology to address the current economic pressures," he added.
Through digital transformation, it is expected that there will be better efficiency, more sustainable manufacturing processes, and high-quality products. However, this is not easy. Felix identified three main challenges, along with solutions, that the steel industry faces in achieving successful digitalization.
What are they? "First, driving change begins with people," he added.
In this case, Felix stated that the human element is often overlooked in digital transformation. Therefore, management teams must have a strong vision of the digital strategy direction for the organization and full support from the Board of Directors. They need to recruit skilled professionals to implement the digital transformation plan and turn it into reality. Additionally, the management team must find ways to develop adaptability among current employees. Regular training to help employees adapt to changes in work processes is essential.
Second, moving from separate data to collaborative data. Felix mentioned that manual operations and fragmented data are major obstacles for steel producers. To overcome this issue, steel producers must prioritize the creation of a strong ‘data culture.’ Software like SAP, he added, can help consolidate and streamline data into a cohesive state of information.
"For example, PT Gunung Raja Paksi has succeeded with the implementation of an efficient data warehouse system, providing comprehensive information to various business functions," Felix explained.
And third, rallying the entire ecosystem to adopt sustainable technologies. In this regard, Felix mentioned that steel producers are 'exploring' cleaner technologies. However, he added, they are often hindered by a lack of technological expertise, infrastructure, and financial resources. To address this, he explained, the steel industry can collaborate with sustainable technology innovators and government entities. Moreover, to help address budget issues, financial support, such as sustainable loans, is also necessary.
"In facing these challenges, the steel industry must be bold and collaborate. Digital transformation may be difficult, but addressing the root issues will unlock great potential for steel producers worldwide. Most importantly, the success of digital transformation will be determined by the people driving it," Felix concluded.
Read Article: https://www.neraca.co.id/article/185770/grp-transformasi-digital-agar-industri-baja-bisa-bersaing-di-pasar-global