Trends, technologies and videos on digital transformation in business

The latest developments in the construction sector: articles on trends, technologies and innovative solutions for all aspects of construction.

Developments in AI, automation and digitalization across industries

Digitalization – digital transformation

The term digitalization has long since come to mean more than just the introduction of new software or automated processes. The digital economy is about profound structural changes in which digital data becomes a key production factor. Companies are faced with the task of not only collecting data, but also evaluating it in a meaningful way, networking it, and translating it into operational decisions. This is precisely where digital transformation comes in: it is changing value chains, organizational structures, and business models alike – gradually, but with a lasting effect. This development is often referred to as the digital revolution because it is affecting almost all industries at the same time. Whether in industry, construction, agriculture, or trade, new forms of collaboration between humans, machines, and software are emerging everywhere. The opportunities offered by digital communication play a central role in this: networked systems enable companies to control processes across locations, make knowledge available more quickly, and address customer needs more precisely. At the same time, there is a growing need for clear strategies to ensure data quality, IT security, and transparency. For companies, digitalization is thus becoming a permanent strategic task. Government funding, research programs, and cross-industry initiatives support this change, but they do not replace the need for companies to invest in their own expertise, infrastructure, and organizational development. The examples presented on Messe.TV show that digital transformation is successful when technology is not viewed in isolation, but as a tool for solving real problems, increasing efficiency, and building long-term competitiveness.

Technologies that solve real problems

Digitalization is effective when it improves specific work processes—not when it is used merely as a buzzword. Numerous companies are demonstrating how smart technologies work in practice: from autonomous robots for vegetable cultivation to automated spraying systems in agriculture to AI-supported construction site logistics. Examples of digitalization with direct practical relevance:

• Smart farming solutions such as those from Ekobot, Roboton, or Farmblick
• Remote-controlled construction machinery such as Liebherr Autonomous Operations or Cat Command
• Software for heating and building planning such as autarc and Zenesis

Artificial intelligence between experimentation and integration

AI applications are no longer a topic for the future. On platforms such as DMEXCO and electronica, providers such as IBM iX, Shopware, and CoreMedia demonstrate how AI is used in content management, customer research, and B2B commerce. Agentic AI—i.e., autonomous, proactive systems—is particularly shaping new approaches in digital marketing and company-wide workflows. The focus is on:

• Adaptive systems for dynamic website personalization (e.g., Pagent AI)
• Visual search intelligence to increase visibility (e.g., Yext Scout)
• Fully integrated CRM and marketing platforms with AI modules (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot, Optimizely)

From embedded systems to digital construction sites

Whether sensor systems, machine learning, or embedded software – digitalization often begins at the technical level, but has an impact on higher-level processes. Manufacturers such as STMicroelectronics, Elmos, and Infineon supply the hardware basis for smart devices, while providers such as Schleißheimer and MicroSys are working on integrated solutions that are used in safety-critical areas such as automotive and medical technology. Digitalization is particularly visible where it restructures infrastructure:

• Telematics and transport management systems (e.g., OPHEO from Initions AG)
• Networked planning and control software for construction sites (e.g., Würth ORSY, CIB Mobil)
• Visualization solutions for prefabricated parts plants or machine control (e.g., AR applications from Weckenmann)