During Industrial Revolution 4.0 Era, Palm Oil Plantation Have to Implement Digital Technology

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At this time the world is in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) which is characterized by the implementation of artificial intelligence, super computer, big data, cloud computation, and digital innovation that occurs in the exponential velocity that will directly impact to the economy, industry, government, and even global politics.

The Industrial Revolution 4.0 is characterized by a smart industrialization process that refers to improved automation, machine-to-machine and human-to-machine communication, artificial intelligence (AI), and the development of sustainable digital technology.

Industrial Revolution 4.0 is also interpreted as an effort to transform the process of improvement by integrating the production line (production line) with the world of cyber, where all production processes run online through internet connection as the main support.

Road Map to Industrial 4.0 in Palm Oil Industry

In Indonesia the application of industry 4.0 is expected to increase productivity and innovation, reduce operational costs, and efficiency that led to increase the export of domestic products. In order to accelerate the implementation of Industry 4.0, Indonesia has developed a roadmap for industry 4.0 by establishing five manufacturing sectors that will be a top priority in its development, including food and beverage industry, automotive, electronics, textiles and chemicals.

The five industry sectors are favored considering that they have shown their great contribution to the national economic growth. For example, the food and beverage industry, especially the palm oil industry, has a market share with growth reaching 9.23% in 2017. In addition, the industry also became the largest foreign exchange contributor from the non-oil sector which reached up to 34.33% in year 2017.

The magnitude of the contribution of the food and beverage industry sector can also be seen from the value of exports reaching 31.7 billion US dollars in 2017, even having a trade balance surplus when compared with the import value of only US $ 9.6 billion. This figure also places the palm oil industry as the largest foreign exchange contributor to the country.

In order to increase productivity and efficiency optimally, the technology supporting the industrial revolution 4.0 is imperative to implement, including the implementation of Internet of Things (IOT), Advance Robotic (AR), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digitalized Infrastructure (DI).

The structural transformation from the agricultural sector to the industrial sector has also increased per capita income and driven Indonesians from agrarian to economies that rely on an industry-driven value-added process accelerated by the development of digital technology.

In the context of this industrial revolution 4.0, the palm oil industry sector needs to immediately clean up, especially in the aspect of digital technology. This is considering the mastery of digital technology will be the key that determines the competitiveness of Indonesia.

Because if not, then the Indonesian palm oil industry will be increasingly left behind from other countries. If we do not improve our capabilities and competitiveness in priority sectors, we will not only be able to reach the target but will be overridden by other countries that are better prepared in the global and domestic markets.

Digitalization Era in Palm Oil Industry

As a major player in the global palm oil industry, Indonesia needs to clean up soon. Absolute process and operational efficiency is immediately undertaken especially concerning activities involving many manpower such as field work (infield activity) such as crop maintenance, land treatment, fertilizing activity, weeding, harvesting and transporting fruit to weighing and sorting. This is because in this sector there is often time and cost inefficiency.

Digital technology has facilitated a lot of work in the palm oil industry. Now no longer need to make statistical data collected from a number of palm plantations manually. Ease and other advantages of digital technology is able to capture images or photos of fresh fruit bunches, as well as precise location of the garden using a tablet that can access the GPS.

That way, field managers can not only easily track and monitor real-time activity in the garden, but they can also see for themselves the quality of the palm fruit and know exactly which areas are experiencing the problem. And incredibly, it does not need their presence on the field.

In addition to the ease of transferring data from the field to the Excel sheet on the computer and also making reports on the quality of the palm fruit, digitization also facilitates in recording the presence of employees and field workers to then process the data for the purposes of remuneration and incentives.

4 Factors to Consider When Purchasing an Industrial PDA

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The industrial PDA offers a variety of benefits for businesses of all shapes, sizes, and industry. It has proved to be an effective tool for saving time, minimizing paperwork, and maximizing productivity. As with all technology, the key to successfully integrating PDAs into a workplace environment is choosing the right one. There are four primary factors to consider which will ensure the PDA will provide a positive ROI.The most important factor to consider is software integration. If the industrial PDA does not support an operating system that allows a company to utilize their preferred software then integration problems are likely. Integration issues are one of the most common unexpected expenses related to adopting new technologies into the workplace environment. Taking this into consideration before purchasing PDAs will save both time and money during the initial setup process.Another crucial factor to consider is durability. In most cases, industrial PDAs will be subjected to a variety of environments which can cause damage. This includes everything from high temperatures to daily jostling that a typical PDA wouldn’t be able to handle. The more durable the equipment is the less money will be required for regular maintenance or device replacement. This will significantly reduce the long-term costs of owning and maintaining a fleet of active PDAs.If a company attempts to integrate this technology for the first time then employee training may be required. The more tech savvy the staff is, the easier the overall integration process will be. If the staff does not know how to effectively utilize an industrial PDA then there is little chance it will be successfully adopted throughout the entire company. While this type of technology is extremely useful, the overall utility significantly diminishes if it is not fully leveraged in workplace processes.The specific applications installed on the PDA are important as well. In most cases, this technology is used to streamline workplace processes and simplify a variety of off-site practices. For example, if the PDA is used to generate and track sales then a POS application should be installed on the equipment. There are several issues which may affect what applications can be effectively used. They include the CPU speed, battery strength, and the availability of complementary attachments and accessories. Popular accessories include charging holsters, protective cases, extended batteries, cradles, and pistol grips.By taking all four of these factors into consideration when purchasing an industrial PDA companies will be able to choose the right equipment for their needs and maximize their ROI but also streamline the integration and training processes.

An Introduction to Industrial LCD

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Using LCD monitors in industrial applications is immensely popular these days. However, you need to do a proper research and consider certain facts before actually purchasing such industrial LCD monitors. They involve a major investment and thus it is imperative to consider your requirements while shopping for them. Having a good idea about the major manufacturers will also be beneficial.You will also have to decide whether you want to go for Touch Screen LCD or one with a flat display. However, the touch screen monitors are more popular these days. The following are some of the key benefits of the touch screen industrial LCD monitors:Since the early 1970s, these monitors are playing a great role. And these days, this technology is immensely popular. In industrial computing field, this technology offers a large number of advantages over its other counterparts. These monitors act both as input and output device. There is no need for a separate mouse or a keyboard when you are using a Graphical User Interface. The touch screen industrial LCD monitors are very durable and resistant to oil, dirt and grease. In fact, they are more robust than any kind of conventional LCD or CRT monitors.While selecting such a monitor, it is important to remember where you will be using this application. You will also need to determine the size of the monitor. In fact, without those wires and other peripherals you can even reduce the size of your computer system. Moreover, they can be mounted on the back of other machines or on the walls. Some of them are even protected against physical impact, electrical surges, temperature extremes, tampering and airborne debris.These types of industrial computers come with added protection from knocks, bangs, spillages and explosive atmosphere. You can find a number of touch screen devices which are used in places where it is almost impossible to keep any standard computer equipments. You can even position them outside and leave unattended.A number of technologies are there behind these touch screen monitors. These include capacitive systems, infrared, surface acoustic wave technology and resistive touch screens.These days, a wide variety of touch screen monitors are available in the market. Due to the difference in technology used, these monitors often differ in their clarity and efficiency levels. In fact, there are certain models that are more susceptible to contaminants and scratches than others.You can buy industrial LCD monitors online. There are many such stores offering these items at a reasonable price. It is always advisable to do a thorough research before opting for a particular online store.

Effective Competition in an Industry Subject to Disruptive Technologies

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In 1980 Michael Porter published a book titled “Competitive Strategy”. Included in the book was a description of the five forces that shape the structure of all industries. These forces are Direct Rivals, Buyers, Suppliers, Substitutes and Potential New Entrants. Andy Grove, former CEO of Intel has suggested that the model needs to be modified to include a sixth force: Complementors. Complementors are companies that provide value enhancing products to an industry. An example of this is a company that creates apps for cell phones. Consumers may make purchasing decisions regarding cell phones based on the apps that are available for these devices.Direct Rivals are those firms in the same industry. Rivalry is stronger when products are similar in features or when there are low switching costs. Some common strategies for competing against direct rivals include price discounting, advertising, innovation and customization. Substitutes refer to the products offered by sellers in adjacent industries. For example, Splenda is a substitute for sugar. Producers of substitutes are perceived as a stronger threat when consumers believe that the substitutes are comparable in quality and performance. Suppliers provide products to an industry. For example, Intel provides semiconductor chips to computer manufacturers. Suppliers have more power when the supplier industry is dominated by a few large companies. Buyers are those companies that buy from an industry and have more power when they are large. For example, Wal-Mart has the power to influence prices of items sold at Wal-Mart since sellers’ products are exposed to a broad market of consumers.Potential new entrants are startups or companies in other industries that might choose to enter the industry under consideration. Strategies used to defend against these potential new entrants include economies of scale, learning based economies resulting from experience, patents, exclusive partnerships with suppliers, favorable locations, a first mover advantage resulting in strong brand preferences and consumer loyalty, a large existing user group that use the product to collaborate, high capital requirements, partnerships with distributors and retailers and restrictive government policies such as licenses and permits. These are generic strategies since the potential new entrant does not yet exist. Since a disruptive technology may cause fundamental changes in an industry and may be used by a potential new entrant, more specific strategies may be required.Blockbuster is an example of a company that was slow to respond to a disruptive technology for the VHS movie rental business: the invention of DVD discs and players. David Cook opened the first Blockbuster store in Dallas in October, 1985. In 1997 the first DVDs were released. Netflix was founded in 1997 in Scotts Valley, California by Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings and opened for business in 1998. Netflix offered DVD rentals by mail. Only in 2004 did Blockbuster start offering a DVD by mail rental service. On September 13 2010, Blockbuster filed for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy whereas in July 2014, Netflix had approximately 6 million DVD subscribers.In order to effectively use Porter’s model when an industry is subject to disruptive technologies I would suggest that a virtual competitor should be constructed. Essentially this is a prediction of a company that could be formed using a disruptive technology. If the business model of the virtual competitor is superior to that of the existing company it is only a matter of time before someone creates this company. The use of this technique enables the analysis of such companies before they are created. The competitive strategies used by these virtual competitors and their effectiveness would be determined by analyzing the impact of their business model on the existing customer base. Once this is done specific strategic responses may be developed including a radical change in the business model that incorporates the new technology. The value of this approach is to enable companies to take timely action before the new entrant is able to establish a strong foothold in the industry.