By Teddy D. Tiu, Country Manager, Autodesk Philippines
Technology in general is evolving so rapidly, that companies of all sizes may find it difficult to keep pace. Cloud and mobile is driving everything, and it wouldn’t surprise if in 10 years most professionals are mobile only.
Competitive advantage is on everyone’s mind, not just locally, but across the country and even globally. Technology developments such as 3D printing coupled with crowdfunding are giving small manufacturers a platform to actually compete in the global market. Cloud-based tools and services are giving small designers and architecture firms the ability to collaborate with global teams and take on large-scale projects.
In 2013 we saw tremendous market opportunities for Autodesk as more industries explore further the potential of design technology, especially in sustainable development, creative multimedia and the manufacturing industry. We foresee 2014 to be yet another productive year as engineers and manufacturers alike continuously strive to solve global challenges like never before.
Here are some technology and design trends we are anticipating in the coming year.
Growing importance of infinite computing – a technological, social and cultural revolution
In most parts of the world including the Philippines, computing is the least expensive resource we use to solve a problem. Tremendous increases in computer processing, bandwidth, storage, affordability, and ubiquity now allows us to deploy hundreds, even thousands, of computers to help solve the growing number of challenges faced as designers, engineers and artists. The old paradigm of ‘design-then-analyse’ is transforming into one where we can use the cloud to analyse thousands of options in parallel, helping us create the best possible designs.
Mobile, cloud and social computing technologies are driving a fundamental shift in computing, making it accessible anytime and anywhere with a virtually infinite amount of computing power. An emerging market like the Philippines will definitely see increased spending on cloud computing technology with the upsurge use of smart connected devices.
3D Printing making manufacturers and individuals more alike
Individuals, entrepreneurs, inventors and makers are gaining the ability to manufacture objects on their own, becoming their own custom factories. The notion that ‘Everyone’s a Designer’ is changing the worlds of design and manufacturing and has started impacting the building industry as well. Manufacturers are able to create the adventurous, one-of-a-kind products that previously would have been the domain of individual artisans.
We anticipate increased use of 3D printing amongst local manufacturers as nearly anyone with an idea can now turn concepts into reality overnight and scale globally. As 3D printing continues to grow and become a part of the mainstream, the gap between individual artisans, hobbyists, and entrepreneurs on one side, and large manufacturers on the other side, will continue to close. As individuals with bright ideas gain the power of manufacturing and as large manufacturers gain the ability to create more individualistic products, consumers can look forward to the ultimate result of better product choices in the marketplace.
Decreasing the distance between manufacturers and consumers with ‘New Shoring’
As we see the increased cost and environmental impact of shipping goods overseas, a decreasing wage disparity, and cheaper domestic energy, more businesses will consider bringing their manufacturing closer to the consumer. This reemphasizing of local manufacturing is also referred to as the ‘new shoring’ trend.
With the increasing convergence in mobility and innovation of technology, we believe that we have an exciting future ahead of us in the field of design technology.
