Staying Ahead in Manufacturing: Lessons from Australian Leaders
Australia’s manufacturing industry is at a turning point. With the Federal Government committing $22.7 billion to its “A Future Made in Australia” strategy, the focus is now squarely on renewable energy, industrial innovation, and future-readiness.
But what does being “future-ready” actually mean for manufacturers on the ground? And how can businesses evolve without scrapping everything and starting over?
To explore these questions, SugarCRM recently hosted an executive lunch in Melbourne with ten senior manufacturing leaders, along with insights from ADAPT’s Matt Boon and Liferay’s Paul Towers. Here’s what we learned—and what it means for your business. One key theme that came over and over? Getting your data in order as a foundation for growth.
What we'll Cover:
1. Being Future-Ready Starts with Smarter Use of Existing Tech
You don’t need to rip out your entire tech stack to modernise. Many businesses find success by optimising what they already have. For example, using AI within your current CRM can automate repetitive tasks and free up teams to focus on higher-value work like innovation and customer strategy.
What we’ve learned: Upgrading is about building flexibility into your existing systems to scale and adapt over time, it doesn’t have to mean overhaul.
2. Top Challenges Are Holding Back Innovation
Australian manufacturers face several key roadblocks to future readiness:
- Legacy systems and technical debt
- Competing business priorities
- Shortage of digital talent
- Cybersecurity concerns
These challenges often stall digital progress—but they can be overcome. Fixing just one or two things, like data hygiene or connecting your systems, can kickstart bigger improvements across the business.
The takeaway: Start small. Identify one area of friction and resolve it with a scalable, strategic fix.
3. Clean, Accessible Data Is the Foundation for AI
AI was a hot topic at our event—and for good reason. But it only works if you have proper data hygiene. If your systems don’t connect or your data isn’t standardized, AI won’t deliver results.
What we’ve learned: Before investing in new tech, get your data house in order. It’s the foundation for everything that comes next.
4. Proving ROI Is Still a Major Barrier
Lately, leadership buy-in is harder to secure, and budgets have become tighter. This proves the return on tech investment is critical. The good news? There are plenty of quick wins that can show value fast—like reducing downtime or improving supply chain visibility.
The takeaway: Start with projects that can show measurable benefits quickly, then use those wins to justify further investment.
5. Leadership Support Is Essential—and Still Lacking
Matt Boon shared that 60% of Australian CIOs say their executive teams lack digital fluency. And with CFOs involved in 70% of tech decisions, making the business case is crucial.
What we’ve learned: Speak the language of ROI. Position tech upgrades as cost-saving and productivity-enhancing to get leaders on board.
Moving Forward
The path to future readiness doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By focusing on strategic upgrades, leveraging existing tools, and demonstrating clear business value, manufacturers can make real progress—starting now.
