The Great IIoT Gold Rush: Why 68% of Digital Transformations Strike Out

And how smart manufacturers are finding their path to digital gold

Ever read stories about the California Gold Rush of 1849?

Thousands of hopeful miners descended on the Sierra Nevada mountains, armed with little more than pickaxes and dreams.

Most went home empty-handed. But why?

Today's Industrial IoT (IIoT) landscape seems eerily similar.

Companies are rushing into digital transformation with the same unbridled enthusiasm and unfortunately, similar results.

Recent studies show that 68% of IIoT implementations fail to deliver their promised ROI.

That's a lot of expensive digital pickaxes gathering dust.

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The Modern Gold Rush Casualties

Walk through any manufacturing facility today, and you'll likely encounter the digital equivalent of abandoned mining claims:

• Smart sensors collecting data that nobody analyzes
• Dashboards displaying metrics that don't drive decisions
• AR headsets sitting in storage after the "pilot program"
• Workers bypassing new systems to get their jobs done

The problem isn't the technology. It's the approach.

Most companies treat digital transformation like a shopping spree: "We need AI! Get us some computer vision! Don't forget the blockchain!"

What the Successful Miners Know

The miners who actually struck gold in 1849 had something the others didn't: experienced guides.

These guides knew the terrain, understood which claims were worth pursuing, and could navigate treacherous conditions.

In today's IIoT landscape, successful companies have their own guides. What we at CBT have coined as Digital Sherpas.

Think about it: You wouldn't climb Everest without a sherpa. You wouldn't explore uncharted territory without a guide.

So why would you navigate the complex world of emerging industrial technology without one?

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Beyond the Shiny Object Syndrome

The real challenge isn't choosing between the latest smart glasses or waiting on the next version of a VR headset. It's not deciding whether to implement computer vision or biometric monitoring first.

The challenge is knowing which path leads to actual value for YOUR specific operation.

This is where the Digital Sherpa approach changes everything:

• Start with the summit, not the gear: What business outcome do you actually need?
• Test before you trek: Use Innovation Labs to validate solutions before full deployment
• Follow proven paths: Learn from others who've successfully navigated similar terrain

The Navigation Advantage

While your competitors are still arguing about which technology vendor has the shiniest booth at trade shows, companies with Digital Sherpas are already delivering results:

• Connected Worker programs that actually improve productivity
• Worker Health & Safety systems that prevent incidents (not just document them)
• Vision AI implementations that catch defects before customers do

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Your Next Expedition

The IIoT gold rush isn't slowing down. It's accelerating. The question isn't whether to pursue digital transformation, but how to do it without joining the 68% failure statistics.

The most successful companies aren't the ones with the most technology. They're the ones with the best guides.

Ready to Navigate the Noise of emerging tech and find your digital gold? The mountain isn't getting any smaller, but you don't have to climb it alone.

Reach out and connect with one of our Digital Sherpas now!