You don’t have to be a tech expert to find your way into Industry 4.0! What is technology consulting?

To answer this question, imagine the following situation: your alarm clock pulls you out of bed. You put the kettle on and shuffle to the bathroom, yawning repeatedly. Suddenly, you’re wide awake within two seconds – you feel a cold puddle under your feet. A broken pipe. What do you do? You find the valve, turn off the water… and call a plumber. Because while you may know where the leak is, that doesn’t mean you can replace the gasket yourself, choose the right tools, and carry out the repair correctly.

Implementing new technologies in industry is quite similar. You may notice that something isn’t working in your production – costs are rising, data is missing, processes are too slow – but that doesn’t mean you immediately know what solutions to apply. This is where technology consulting comes in.

Discover what professional technology consulting can do for you – and why more and more companies turn to external support for their digital transformation.

Implementing Industry 4.0 technologies is not just about purchasing new systems or machines. It’s a comprehensive process that includes needs analysis, solution design, integration with existing systems, and organizational change management. Without proper expert support, companies often face numerous obstacles. Here are some of them:

Just as not everyone can fix a leaking pipe or a faulty electric installation, not every organization has the internal resources to carry out digital transformation independently. The rapid development of Industry 4.0 technologies – such as IoT, big data, AI, or advanced robotics – requires specialized expertise that IT departments rarely possess.

Moreover, these technologies must be integrated with existing business processes and corporate culture, which further complicates implementation. Without adequate preparation and support, investments in new solutions may lead to disappointing results.

Professional technology consulting is like a guide that helps organizations safely navigate the digital transformation journey. External experts bring not only specialized knowledge but also experience gained from previous implementations, which helps avoid common mistakes and accelerates the implementation process.

Key areas where technology consulting delivers the greatest value:

Experienced consultants help define which technologies and solutions best match the organization’s specifics. The process begins with a discovery call and workshops, during which key business processes, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement are identified. This ensures that investments in new technologies are aimed at solving real problems – not just implementing trendy tools.

Digital transformation is not a one-time event but a long-term process. Professional consultants help design a comprehensive roadmap that considers both short- and long-term goals. The use of BPM (Business Process Management) tools helps translate complex concepts into specific implementation steps and define KPIs for each stage.

The success of digital transformation largely depends on the organization’s readiness to adapt to new technologies. Technology consultants help design and implement training programs tailored to different employee groups, lead transparent communication, and engage teams in the change process. This helps overcome natural resistance to change and build a culture that supports innovation.

Professional consultants also assist in developing methods for measuring ROI and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs). This allows organizations to continuously assess whether the implemented solutions are delivering the expected outcomes – and adjust where necessary.

Companies that choose to work with external experts in their digital transformation processes can expect concrete benefits, including:

• time and resource savings – experienced consultants help avoid costly mistakes and speed up implementation;

• access to expert knowledge – external professionals bring in-depth knowledge of the latest solutions and technology trends;

• objective perspective – consultants provide an outsider’s view of the organization, helping identify areas for improvement;

• change management support – professional advisors help prepare employees for upcoming changes and minimize internal resistance.

External expert support is particularly valuable in the following situations:

• Planning a comprehensive digital transformation – when the company is preparing to roll out Industry 4.0 solutions on a broad scale.

• Lack of internal resources – when the organization lacks specialists experienced in implementing modern technologies.

• Previous failed attempts – when earlier in-house digitalization efforts did not bring the expected results.

• Need for an objective evaluation – when the company needs an independent assessment of its digital readiness and optimization potential.

At explitia, we never implement technology blindly. Every project – whether it’s a MES, ERP, EMS, traceability system, or AI – begins with consulting. Why?

Because only then can we be sure that:

• solutions match the client’s real needs,

• the budget is rationally planned,

• the entire project has business logic.

Consulting can take many forms – from a free workshop to a detailed audit and technical documentation. But it always has one goal: to translate technology into real value.

Modern production systems don’t operate in a vacuum. Their effectiveness depends not only on technical parameters but also on how well they align with the organization’s logic. That’s where tools like BPM (Business Process Management) come in.

Process models help to:

• map how your company actually works („as-is”),

• design the optimal future state („to-be”),

• create an implementation roadmap – step by step, with KPIs, milestones, and control points.

From our experience, it’s clear: even the best technology is useless if people don’t want to use it. That’s why technology consulting must also include organizational change management.

In practice, this means:

• involving employees from the very beginning (workshops, conversations, consultations),

• adjusting the pace of change to the company’s realities,

• training and support after implementation.

Not every employee needs to understand IoT or AI – but everyone should know why a change is being introduced and how it benefits their work.

You can’t talk about new technologies without talking about costs. And this is where consulting also plays its role: we help convert investments into measurable returns. KPI, OEE, ROI – these indicators aren’t just buzzwords. They’re tools that support sound investment decisions.

Technology consulting is not about selling a specific system. It’s about helping you make the right decision. Because you may know it’s leaking – but you don’t have to know how to fix it. That’s what the experts are for.

explitia is both a consulting and implementation company. We combine technical expertise with a practical approach to processes and management. We help clients not just „buy something”, but truly achieve measurable results. Because professional technology consulting is the bridge between the vision of digital transformation and its successful realization.