Just as factors such as climate change or habitat destruction can test a species’ adaptability, so economic stability, energy prices or regulatory change can have an impact on industry. When the environment becomes harsh, there are two options – hunker down and wait for the ice age to pass, or adapt to the changes and seek out opportunities in the new conditions. The former is the austerity approach, stopping activity and cutting investment, waiting for better times to take a risk. The latter is the growth approach, taking the opportunity of a challenge to become better, faster and stronger.

Automation is an example of a technology that can be used to improve the flexibility and adaptability of a business to make it better, faster and stronger. Whether it is improving quality, reliability, repeatability, accuracy, throughput, energy consumption or productivity, the outcome is an improved bottom-line and a platform for growth.

In uncertain economic times, businesses cannot afford to wait for change and shouldn’t ignore the development opportunity that automation technology offers.