A long time ago, steam engines triggered the first industrial revolution by mechanizing some of the work that our ancestors did. The next major industrial revolution was driven by electricity, the assembly line, and the birth of mass production. The third revolution came about with computer technology and automation, which made it possible for robots and machines to replace human labor on assembly lines. A number of strategists now believe that we are at the forefront of the fourth industrial revolution, which is being driven by interconnected digital technology.

The term Industry 4.0 refers to the combination of several major innovations in digital technology, all coming to maturity simultaneously and poised to transform critical manufacturing sectors. A recent quote from Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, puts the magnitude of the fourth revolution in perspective. He states, “Contrary to the previous industrial revolutions, this one is evolving at an exponential rather than linear pace… It is not only changing the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ of doing things, but also ‘who’ we are.”

At this year’s Print 2017 event, a number of advancements are expected to change how print is manufactured, what service providers produce, and who print service providers will become as they transform their businesses to better align with digital technologies.