Digital business is being facilitated by new enabling technologies such as 3D Printing, IoT and smart machines. We have already discussed 3D Printing. IoT represents a network of devices connected  to the Internet.

These are embedded with sensors and are mainly used to collect data. These can be controlled remotely. IoT can be used by incorporating it in a machine to minimise cost. Smart machines represent new mobile robots which can do an array of jobs, unlike the industrial robots which are often designed to do one type of job. Further smart machines also mean machines with cognitive computer systems, with advanced artificial intelligence. These can be used to perform complex tasks, traditionally performed by human beings.

The 3D Printing affects the Product Life Cycle theory. Before scaling up the production, a company can put short product runs with 3D printing.Later there will be traditional manufacturing. A 3D printed product can be made available even after the traditional manufacturing discontinues its production. In leasing decisions, there was reliance on depreciation. But thanks to IoT, companies can have data on the asset usage, and this enables a more realistic assessment of residual values. The workforce in future will be a hybrid workforce — people, augmented workers and smart machines.

The augmentation devices could be wearables such as Google Glass. A resource planner will have to find the right balance of workers and machines.