Ten years in the making: Industry 4.0 meets 5G at Hannover Messe 2021

The recent (digital) Hannover Messe 2021 showcased the latest trends and innovations under the theme “Industrial Automation” across factories, energy systems and supply chains. The term ‘Industry 4.0’ was coined at Hannover Messe a decade ago, and industry executives were naturally keen to reflect on progress since then and the maturity of various technologies that Industry 4.0 comprises: machine learning, edge computing, digital twins and new network technologies such as 5G and Wi-Fi 6. These reflections are more important now than ever before, since the Covid-19 pandemic has affected every industry over the past year. Against this backdrop, manufacturers have faced numerous challenges, but also plenty of opportunities to innovate and accelerate their digital transformation journeys.