How industry will be reshaped by 2030 in Switzerland and around the world

A look at the next stage of industrial development

The industry is undergoing a profound transformation. By 2030, production facilities, supply chains, energy flows and business models will have evolved beyond mere digitalisation. They will be organised differently and be significantly more interconnected, data-driven and adaptable. The reconfiguration of industry by 2030 in Switzerland and around the world will depend not only on individual technologies, but also on the interplay of automation, artificial intelligence, energy efficiency, cybersecurity, skilled workers, geopolitical stability, and the long-term availability of hardware.

This development is particularly relevant for Swiss companies. Switzerland is a high-wage, high-quality innovation hub. This is precisely why the future of industry will be determined not by mass production, but by precision, reliability, flexible production and intelligent systems. INOVIS is based in Switzerland and helps industrial companies integrate robust hardware, edge computing, industrial communication and customised solutions into this new reality.

From digitalisation to industrial orchestration

Much has been said about Industry 4.0 in recent years. Sensors, cloud platforms, digital twins, remote access and connected machines are no longer just a vision of the future. However, the next step goes even further: by 2030, the focus will be not only on digitalisation, but also on orchestration.

This means that machines, data, people, software, suppliers and energy flows will be viewed as part of a single, integrated system. Production facilities will no longer function as single lines with isolated control systems, but as dynamic networks. Data from machines, cameras, sensors, ERP systems and energy management will be consolidated. This will enable decisions to be made more quickly and precisely, and in some cases automatically.

Artificial intelligence is becoming the industrial support workforce

Although artificial intelligence will not have replaced every machine or solved every problem by 2030, it will be used as an additional layer of support across industrial processes. However, it will be increasingly used to provide additional support across industrial processes. Applications in areas such as quality control, predictive maintenance, process optimisation, production planning, document analysis and automatic fault detection will be particularly relevant.

Unlike previous waves of automation, AI does not merely execute predefined procedures. It recognises patterns, evaluates deviations, and provides recommendations for action. For example, a production line could supply data on temperature, vibration and power consumption. An AI system can detect that a bearing is gradually deteriorating before it fails. Maintenance is therefore no longer planned according to a fixed schedule, but according to the actual condition of the equipment.

This is precisely where edge computing is becoming increasingly important. Not all data needs to be sent to the cloud. Many industrial decisions must be made directly at the machine, in the control cabinet or in the vehicle. This is why edge PCs, rugged industrial computers, and intelligent gateways are becoming central building blocks of industrial architecture.

Energy is becoming a strategic factor of production

By 2030, energy will no longer be viewed merely as an operating cost. Instead, it will be seen as a strategic factor in competitiveness, site selection and production planning. Therefore, companies must know when, where and how much energy is being consumed. At the same time, there is increasing pressure to make processes more efficient, transparent and sustainable.

For industry, this means that, in addition to their performance, machines will be assessed on their energy profile. In the future, production planning may be more closely guided by factors such as electricity prices, grid load, self-consumption from photovoltaic systems and available storage capacity. The fields of building automation, machine control and energy management are becoming increasingly intertwined.

AI itself also requires energy. Therefore, a reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity supply will be crucial for the economic use of modern technologies. At the same time, however, AI can help to make energy systems, grids and industrial processes more efficient.

Supply chains are becoming more regional, more transparent and more resilient

The pandemic, geopolitical tensions, semiconductor shortages, energy crises and transport issues have all served to highlight the vulnerability of global supply chains. By 2030, therefore, the industry will no longer focus solely on achieving the lowest purchase price, but will also consider security of supply, alternative sourcing channels, inventory strategies, and ensuring the long-term availability of products.

This is particularly important for Swiss industrial companies, many of whose projects have long lifecycles. Machinery, vehicles, plant and infrastructure systems often need to be operated for ten years or more. This means that an industrial PC, panel PC, router or gateway cannot be treated as an interchangeable standard product in such projects. Rather, it forms part of a tested, approved and documented system architecture.

This is why framework agreements, lifecycle management, end-of-life (EOL) planning and second-source strategies are becoming increasingly important. Companies want to know: Will this hardware be available in the long term? Are there compatible successor products? Will replacement units still be available in five years’ time? Is there clear information on certifications, operating systems, drivers and interfaces?

Switzerland will remain strong if it continues to specialise

Until 2030, Switzerland will struggle to compete with low-cost manufacturing. However, it will remain strong in sectors requiring precision, quality, trust and technical expertise. These sectors include mechanical engineering, medical technology, automation, energy, transport, infrastructure, building automation, robotics, and specialist electronics.

They have an advantage thanks to their combination of high-level engineering expertise, stable business relationships, reliable logistics, multilingual communication and a strong culture of quality. At the same time, however, Swiss companies need to optimise their cost structure through smart automation. This can be achieved by reducing manual processes, identifying errors at an early stage, enabling remote maintenance and making better use of data. These measures will help them to remain competitive even in a high-cost location.

INOVIS: At the forefront of industrial development since 1999

Since 1999, INOVIS Live Automation AG has supported industrial companies in navigating technological change, new requirements, and complex project environments. Of course, no one can say with certainty what the industrial world will look like in 2030. There are too many factors at play, including global markets, new technologies, energy issues, supply chains, political developments, and the speed at which innovations are implemented in practice.

What we do know, however, is that change will remain an integral part of industry. This is why INOVIS strives to stay ahead of the curve in terms of innovations, developments, trends and technologies. We monitor the market, maintain close dialogue with manufacturers and technology partners, and continuously assess which solutions offer genuine added value for industrial applications.

Our long-standing, trusted partners and customers are particularly important to us in this regard. Many of these relationships have existed for years and are characterised by openness, reliability and mutual trust. Such partnerships are particularly valuable in times of change. They help us better understand technical requirements, find suitable solutions, and support projects successfully in the long term.

INOVIS, a company based in Switzerland, is looking forward to the exciting future that lies ahead. While the industry will face new challenges by 2030, it will also present significant opportunities. INOVIS aims to play an active role in shaping this future, drawing on our experience, curiosity, technical expertise, and commitment to continuous improvement.

Cybersecurity is becoming an integral part of machine architecture

As machines, systems and sites become increasingly interconnected, cybersecurity becomes ever more important. By 2030, operating industrial devices without a clear security strategy will be virtually unacceptable. Standard requirements will include remote access, VPNs, user roles, encrypted communication, updates, network segmentation and monitoring.

In the past, machines were often isolated. Nowadays, however, they are connected to ERP systems, cloud services, service portals, suppliers and remote maintenance. While this increases benefits, it also increases risk. Insecure routers, outdated industrial PCs and poorly documented remote access can become gateways for attacks.

The new industrial configuration up to 2030 will therefore be based more firmly on the principle of ‘secure by design’. Security will be planned from the outset, rather than being added as an afterthought. Hardware selection, the operating system, interfaces, access concepts and updateability will all be part of the project decision.

People remain crucial – but their role is changing

Automation and AI do not mean that people will no longer be involved in industry. Rather, their role is evolving. Routine tasks are becoming less important, while monitoring, analysis, optimisation, servicing, interpreting data and integrating systems are becoming more important.

By 2030, companies will require employees who can understand processes and data. For example, a service technician will not only check mechanical components, but also analyse logs. Production managers will not only monitor output figures, but also interpret data flows and energy metrics. Similarly, a buyer will not only compare prices, but also assess supply chain risks and lifecycle data.

Industrial hardware is becoming more strategic once again

In a world that is increasingly dependent on software, you might think that hardware is becoming less important. However, the opposite is true. The more processes are digitised, the more crucial reliable hardware becomes. Without robust edge PCs, panel PCs, routers, gateways, sensors and network technology, AI, remote maintenance, data analysis and automation would not be able to function reliably.

By 2030, industrial hardware will be evaluated based on new criteria.

Criterion	Why it will become more important by 2030
Long-term availability	Projects require stable platforms over many years.
Interface diversity	Machines, sensors and legacy systems need to be integrated.
Edge performance	Data must be processed locally.
Robustness	Industrial environments require temperature, vibration and EMC stability.
Cybersecurity	Connected devices need secure communication.
Energy efficiency	Power consumption becomes part of the operating cost and sustainability strategy.
Customization	Standard devices do not always fit specific applications.

This makes customised solutions particularly important. While not every project requires a brand new device, many do require customised interfaces, display sizes, touch technologies, add-ons, operating systems and mounting options.

The global industry is becoming more multipolar

It is unlikely that a single hub will dominate global industry by 2030. Instead, Europe, the US, China, India, South-East Asia, and other specialised regions will develop their own industrial strategies. Factors such as energy prices, political stability, the level of automation, data regulation, access to skilled workers and availability of semiconductors will influence where production takes place.

At the same time, the global division of labour will remain in place. However, it will be shaped more deliberately. Companies will assess critical components more closely, develop alternative suppliers and produce goods closer to their sales markets. In many places, ‘just in time’ will be supplemented by ‘just in case’. While efficiency will remain important, resilience will be equally important.

What businesses should do now

The key question is not whether the industry is changing, but how it is changing. It already is. A more important question is which companies are actively reconfiguring their systems and which are being left behind by these developments.

To be well-positioned by 2030, examine the following areas today: data availability, machine connectivity, remote maintenance, cybersecurity, energy consumption, hardware lifecycle, supplier strategy, and scalability. This is not about replacing everything at once. Often, the transformation begins with a clear, pragmatic step, such as connecting a machine to make data visible, setting up secure remote access or integrating a robust edge PC, or modernising an outdated communications concept.

Industry is becoming smarter, more connected and more resilient

In a nutshell, the way in which industry will be reconfigured by 2030, both in Switzerland and globally, is as follows: industry is evolving from isolated production systems into intelligent, interconnected and resilient value-creation networks.

This presents a significant opportunity for Switzerland. Companies that combine quality, technical expertise, long-term partnerships and modern automation will remain successful, even in a challenging global environment. INOVIS is a Swiss company that supports businesses in finding the right industrial hardware, edge computing platforms, IoT connectivity and customised solutions for this new industrial reality.

FAQ