An endless loop. This is how Étienne Dansereau describes the perpetual change in which the entrepreneurial world is immersed. For six years, he has been helping organizations find the most appropriate technological solutions, such as robotization, the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence.
When he compares the current situation with that prevailing at the beginning, he notes a change in paradigms. “Before, you had to convince an entrepreneur that automation would help them to be more productive, so that they dared to invest in money and resources,” explains the digital transformation coordinator at the CCTT network.
“Now, in the midst of a labor crisis, the same digital tool could be the solution to its problems,” says Étienne Dansereau.
The fear that the arrival of robots will lead to significant job cuts is therefore less relevant. “Now a company won’t lose its employees to automation, it will do more with what it has. It is very important in the eyes of the government to increase productivity and have a real impact on the industrial fabric. »
To achieve this, professionals like him must establish a solid bond of trust with entrepreneurs.
As it involves a multitude of technologies, the solutions are very varied. There is the now classic option of robotization or collaborative robots. “It removes the need for a human resource who must do a repetitive task. As these robots can be implemented relatively easily, without too much factory redevelopment, and they are not very expensive, it is very accessible. »
We also talk about the Internet of Industrial Things. Or the exploitation of data accumulated by different systems, sensors and machines in order to obtain a better analysis of productivity. “For example, we can receive real-time notification when there is an equipment breakdown or a line stoppage. »
And of course, artificial intelligence, which takes businesses to another level. “We can take huge amounts of data to make predictions and decisions in real time, which are based on history that can go back a very long time. »
Sometimes, Étienne Dansereau is seen as a savior. “When an entrepreneur presents us with a problem that seems like a mountain to him, because he doesn’t have the expertise in the field, but we show him simple solutions, whereas he thought he was in a dead end. -bag, it’s really beautiful to see. »
Other times, his interlocutors are on their guard. “But the moment they realize that we know what we’re talking about, that we have expertise and that they understand what they can get by working with us, they quickly gain confidence. »
Its biggest challenge remains that of popularizing different technologies. “Robotization is relatively well-known, but there are a lot of others, such as mechatronics or optics for quality control, which are completely unknown. It becomes a challenge to make them see the potential. »
In any case, entrepreneurs who have not yet boarded the digital transformation boat risk sinking, according to him. “It’s not a trend. It’s an endless loop. We’re going to hear a lot more about it in the future. »