The analysis of Confindustria's Digital Innovation Hubs based on a Politecnico di Milano test

La digital maturity of enterprises is at a good level: it almost reaches the average of 3 (2.85) on a scale of 1 to 5 (highest digital maturity). However, the size of the companies evaluated is a very important variable: the level of digitisation, in fact, increases as size increases and this means that for smaller companies, the innovation process is slowermainly due to a lack of expertise.

It is among the findings of an analysis carried out by the Digital Innovation Hub of Confindustria - the network of 23 hubs at regional level based at the Confindustria associations, which aims to disseminate digital skills to enterprises, with a focus on SMEs - through a test conducted by the Politecnico di Milano on a sample made up of 58% of micro-small enterprises and 42% of medium-large enterprises. More than 2/3 of the realities analysed are located in the North, with a clear prevalence in the North-West, one fifth in the South and Islands and the remaining 11% in the Centre. The first three sectors in terms of the number of companies analysed (mechatronics and mechanics, metallurgy, chemicals, rubber and plastics) account for half of the sample considered and almost a quarter belong to the mechatronics and mechanics sector.

Looking at the level of digitisation of the companies surveyed broken down by sectors, it emerges that, albeit with small differences, the most advanced sectors (index slightly above or close to 3) are: 1. Transport, mobility and logistics, 2. They are followed by: Life sciences and pharmaceuticals, Chemistry, rubber and plastics, agribusiness, metallurgy, paper and wood industry, textiles and fashion, trade, building and construction.

Companies in all sectors have digitised mainly the production and research & innovation phases.

The analysis on corporate strategy reveals some critical issues that highlight the need to implement the corporate culture and skills for the transition:

• • Slightly less than 1/3 of companies consider Industry 4.0 part of their business strategies;
  • Only 4 out of 10 companies recognise, develop and reward Industry 4.0 skills;
  • For 7 out of 10 companies, Industry 4.0 does not involve internal and external supply chain actors
  • Just under 50% of the mapped companies consider their corporate culture on Industry 4.0 mature
  • More than 6 out of 10 companies have developed a smart product
  • Industry 4.0 strategies are defined by more than half of enterprises by the ownership and for 30% by the Directorate-General

With reference to the constraints that limit the start-up of digital transformation processes, companies report: Lack of skills (43%), cost of investment (42%), corporate culture (29%), knowledge of the market (24%), low propensity of the supply chain to integrate (18%), identification of external partners (18%), knowledge of incentives (13%), risk of failure (9%), lack of market maturity (8%), security (7%), legal aspects (3%).

"Businesses are in the midst of the so-called twin transitions, green and digital, which are also the two major drivers of investment and competitiveness in Italy and Europe and are closely intertwined,' he said. Agostino Santoni, Confindustria Vice President for Digital. This is why it is essential to accelerate digitisation and, above all, to decisively focus on the development of a Data Economy, which makes the most of the enormous amount of information collected by companies and public administrations through the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and the Cloud. This is the natural evolution of 4.0, but it must be supported with the creation of appropriate skills both through school and university courses and the upskilling and reskilling of the human resources already employed'.

According to Maurizio Marchesini, Confindustria Vice President for Supply Chains and Medium-sized Enterprises: "The scenario that emerges from the enormous work carried out by the DIHs of Confindustria indicates very clearly the trajectories to be followed in the revision of Plan 4.0 that is being talked about in recent weeks. The results achieved are certainly the effect of the 4.0 transformation policies, which have activated investments that would not have been realised with the same intensity in the absence of the Plan. But the involvement of SMEs in innovation processes, skills, investment in 4.0 technologies, and the creation of a digital culture remain the priorities to be addressed. There is also a clear need to accelerate the integration of supply chains, which represent the Italian way to competitiveness and the digital and ecological transition of the production system: it is precisely in supply chains that many small businesses find their way to grow. In this framework, given the speed of technological innovation, it is essential to continue working with a clear vision, ensuring that the production system has a Plan that supports its competitiveness and a network of DIHs that, with its know-how, continues to support companies in these challenges'.

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