Industrial technology touches more parts of our lives than we often realize. From the cars we drive to the energy that powers our homes and the products we use every day, businesses across industries rely on industrial technology to work smarter, faster, and more sustainably. These tools don’t just boost productivity and profitability. They also improve safety and help companies innovate in ways that benefit us all.
In this article, we’ll explore how key industrial technology innovations—from robotics to AI to clean energy—are transforming modern business, and what they mean for the future of work.
“Innovation” has two meanings: the creation of new technologies and how they’re used in industries across the board. The goal of innovative technology? Making our lives easier, —hether it’s as simple as talking to online chatbots or as profound as using robotics to assist in surgery.
Below, we explore six technological innovations that have helped both businesses and consumers thrive in a fast-changing world.
Robots are not a new manufacturing tool. In fact, they’ve been used on automobile assembly lines for more than 50 years.
These are not the walking, talking robots depicted in science fiction movies, but rather robotic arms that can easily move heavy components into place or apply paint and adhesives to a vehicle without suffering any effects of toxic fumes.
The automotive industry has provided a testing ground for the widespread use of robotics in manufacturing, paving the way for its use across other business sectors.
Robotics are also reshaping the medical world. For instance, some dentists now use robot-guided arms to place dental implants with extreme precision, reducing the risk of human error during procedures.
One particular class of robots, referred to as “smart robots,” do not merely perform as programmed but can learn and implement new tasks on their own. In business, they’re being used to increase efficiency in numerous ways.
More recently, generative AI tools are helping manufacturers in several ways, including:
Outside of business, we see AI in self-parking cars and robot vacuum cleaners that add convenience to our daily lives.
Clean technologyClean technology (or cleantech) refers to innovations that minimize environmental impact by reducing resource use and cutting harmful emissions, all while improving efficiency.
The push for companies to operate more responsibly has led to major clean technology breakthroughs, including:
These innovations help reduce environmental impact while meeting growing consumer demand for sustainability.
The Internet of Things (IoT) typically refers to physical devices and appliances that are “able to collect and exchange data using embedded sensors.” These aren’t your typical smart devices like phones or computers. Instead, they’re everyday objects that weren’t always built to connect, like thermostats, refrigerators, or even doorbells.
The voice-enabled Alexa, which allows users to access information and entertainment through simple verbal commands, is one consumer-based example. While convenience is an advantage all users can appreciate, Alexa users who are blind or suffer from mobility issues enjoy especially significant benefits from such technology.
A growing number of manufacturing companies are making an investment in IoT, which has been referred to as “the pipeline connecting and collecting mountains of data from an entire spectrum of equipment and devices.” According to one estimate, 81% of industrial manufacturers are using Internet of Things technology to boost their operational efficiency.
Additive manufacturing, more commonly referred to as 3D printing, has been around since the 1980s, but its potential has increased a thousandfold over the decades. 3D printers are now available to consumers, who can make items such as cell phone holders on their own at home.
But the impact on business has been more dramatic. This technology enables mass-produced items to get to market quicker and at a lower cost. Additive manufacturing is already being used to create prosthetic limbs, dental crowns, and more, and it has the potential to create human organs for people who need transplants. According to GlobalData, industry will invest more than $20 billion into 3D printing by 2025.
Popular in the video gaming world for years, virtual reality headsets are now helping businesses in many ways. Car manufacturers can create 360-degree virtual views of prototype vehicles from design specs before beginning the expensive and lengthy process of developing a physical prototype.
Virtual and augmented reality software enables surgeons to perform complex procedures on virtual patients first, improving hospital efficiency and patient outcomes. On the consumer side, wearable tech products like the Oura Ring or Apple Watch help people track everything from sleep quality to heart rate to daily movement, making health data more accessible than ever.
Technological innovation is reshaping not just industries but also the careers that support them. Here’s why it matters:
Help lay the path for future innovations that can forever change the way business works and consumers live their lives. The right training and credentials can help position you for a rewarding industrial technology role within a variety of industries. The University of Texas Permian Basin offers online bachelor’s degrees that will be invaluable in your career:
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology (BSIT)
Prepare to manage industrial operations within any organization.
Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Industrial Technology (BAAS-IT)
Expand your expertise in management concepts including optimization theory and supply chain management. This program can benefit AAS-degree holders seeking to advance their careers to include managerial roles. Add an online undergraduate certificate in petroleum technology to enhance your expertise in the energy industry.
Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Healthcare Leadership (BAAS-IT Healthcare Leadership)
Become a leader who can meet the needs of employees and patients and make important financial and quantitative decisions in a healthcare setting. This program can benefit AAS-degree holders in nursing, emergency medical services, radiology, and other healthcare-related fields.
All courses for these degree programs are presented in an asynchronous, 100% online format, offering you tremendous flexibility. Complete your coursework at your own pace, from any location, while giving your professional and personal obligations the attention they need. Most program courses last just eight weeks, and you’ll learn from the same distinguished professors who teach the courses on campus at UT Permian Basin.
Explore industrial technology and acquire the skills needed to succeed in a variety of careers with a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from UT Permian Basin.
Sources:
https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/smart-robot
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/chatbot.asp
https://3dinsider.com/3d-printing-history
https://virtualspeech.com/blog/vr-applications
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