Industry Digital Transformation in the Middle East, 2025: Technology, Challenges, and Prospects

Production has been already undergoing digital transformation for several years using various solutions. In a time of huge data volumes, production has no other way but to adopt digital services to maintain leadership in a highly competitive environment. Trending technologies include:

• Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
• Data storage, management, and visualization
• Machine Learning and Computer Vision
• Optimization planning systems
• Digital Twins

The vast Usetech experience in implementing digital solutions in the industry shows that all these trending areas are closely interconnected. It is impossible to use barn books to store data and adopt smart manufacturing systems with Digital Twins and automated processes. 

For example, a metallurgical plant has several production stages and many processes of different scales with their specifics. Each production process contains huge data volumes: from temperature and chemical composition to conveyor speed and raw material consumption. 

IIoT as a Revolutionary Technology

Thousands of such data pieces are received per day, and their amount per year is simply unimaginable. We propose to use the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to collect valuable production information.

The Industrial Internet of Things is a revolutionary technology, which transforms conventional areas and creates new opportunities. IIoT is the cutting-edge driving force, which transforms production while increasing its connectivity, flexibility, transparency, and efficiency. 

Sensors and devices can monitor equipment or process performance, power consumption, output, etc. These data allow the system to perform an analysis and identify bottlenecks that require attention to improve performance. 

Moreover, a real-time data analysis makes it possible to timely respond to non-regular events, such as accidents or equipment shutdowns. Such predictive analytics allows the user to take timely measures and avoid losses.

IoT & Machine Learning

The Internet of Things is closely related to Machine Learning. ML-based services are not a fancy trend, but proven solutions with real benefits. 

The application of AI and Computer Vision based on data obtained from a variety of systems and equipment covers a wide range of options such as supply chain optimization, quality control, and process optimization. 

Digital services are not intended to replace production personnel; they should be considered only as assistants that suggest what management actions need to be taken in a particular situation. 

For example, in mining these could be tips on conveyor speed, the optimal equipment operating mode to reduce power consumption, the amount of expensive raw materials for the required output, etc. For industry, the adoption of Machine Learning represents a strategic step toward modernization and leadership in a highly competitive environment.

AI for Planning

One of the important production tasks is planning. Artificial Intelligence allows enterprises to control inventories, estimate demand, and optimize logistics. In such a way, they quickly adapt to an ever-changing environment and production requirements, adjusting their processes in real-time to improve performance.

Computer Vision-based systems also play a crucial role in processes. They help detect defects, off-size raw materials, and process disruptions and immediately make adjustments to reduce costs. 

At the production site of a large mining company, our team implemented a Computer Vision system for tracking the grain-size distribution on a conveyor. The adopted digital service allows the company to decrease mill downtime and equipment breakdowns and suggests optimal mill operation modes for higher efficiency.

Integration Into One Ecosystem

However, all services and systems must be integrated into a single ecosystem. Such integration allows the production plant to obtain real-time data on processes at different levels. 

The digital ecosystem is a fundamental step towards smart production and Digital Twins. The Digital Twin concept is one of the main trends for the upcoming years. 

By simulating various “what-if” scenarios, the production plant can assess potential risks, various events probability, and the impact of any parameter changes, as well as recommend management actions to improve the situation.

For example, Usetech offers such a solution as risks digital twins. It allows the user to create a detailed production process model, taking into account all specifics and relationships among different components. 

The system receives data related to the condition of the enterprise’s facilities and its technological and business processes stages and monitors personnel actions. 

This makes it possible to analyze risks and their probability, simulate threats, identify the most vulnerable areas, and select effective measures to prevent emergencies and reduce the probability of injuries. 

Such an approach allows the production plant to reduce risks and time to prevent them, improve all business processes and resources, ensure safety at hazardous facilities, increase performance, and decrease costs.

An Integrated Approach

Digital transformation of industry is an integrated approach, which requires thinking about how this or that process can be improved, whether automation will be justified, and what the expected effect of the implemented solution will be. 

Thus, the production personnel, in synergy with IT, is involved in the development process as much as possible, and the most important is that all employees are motivated to make the most useful product and strive for great results.

The adoption of digital services in the industry is inevitable; this is a key path for any production company's development.