In an increasingly connected world, business success is tied to the ability to innovate and adapt to change. Italian SMEs, the backbone of the country’s economy, now face a crossroads: embrace digital technologies and big data to compete on a global scale or risk falling behind in a rapidly changing international environment.
This reflection, which inevitably touches on the role of digitization in the internationalization processes of companies, took on particular relevance last Jan. 21, during the “Data Economy for Internationalization” conference organized at the BI-REX National Competence Center. The event provided a platform for discussion for entrepreneurs, experts and institutions, with the aim of highlighting how digital transformation and data analysis can be strategic levers for Italian SMEs that want to win global competition by taking full advantage of all the benefits offered by the combination of digitization and internationalization.
The partnership between Roncucci&Partners and BI-REX for SMEs
The focus of the conference was the announcement of the partnership between Roncucci&Partners and BI-REX. This agreement aims to offer concrete support to companies in the digitization of business and the adoption of advanced technologies to support the definition of strategies for strengthening the international competitive positioning of SMEs.
“For some time we have been working intensively on the issues of Digitization and Internationalization, the main new drivers to increase the competitiveness of the entrepreneurial system,” said Giovanni Roncucci, President of Roncucci&Partners. “Big data and digital innovation can increase the international competitiveness of companies, but this is a topic that needs a concrete and in-depth approach.”
BI-REX, one of the 8 national Competence Centers created under the Industry 4.0 program, has made available its Pilot Line, a smart factory designed to enable companies to test advanced technologies before investing. This “Test Before Invest” approach is a key resource for reducing the risks associated with innovation and accelerating the technology adoption process.
Data Economy and Big Data: new opportunities for SMEs
During the conference, Prof. Francesco Ubertini, president of Cineca and IFAB, presented one of the most significant novelties for the Italian production system: the arrival in Bologna of a European supercomputer dedicated to the creation of the artificial intelligence platform “AI Factory” of the European Commission. This tool represents a unique opportunity for SMEs to access advanced resources, but the challenge remains to create an effective bridge between these technologies and business realities.
As Stefano Cattorini, managing director of BI-REX, pointed out, “Wealth, in the new knowledge economy, is having large amounts of data and knowing how to collect, process and manage it. Big data and artificial intelligence are the energy to design the factory and production 5.0.”
Cues for SMEs: where to start?
For Italian SMEs looking to take advantage of the opportunities offered by digitization and internationalization, a few key steps can make all the difference:
- Assess their digital maturity: With the support of partners such as Roncucci&Partners and BI-REX, companies can conduct an audit to identify areas for improvement and define a strategic plan.
- Experiment before investing: Use platforms such as BI-REX’s Pilot Line to test new technologies and understand their value before making significant investments.
- Train human capital: Digitization requires new skills. Investing in staff training is essential to ensure a successful transition.
- Collaborate with players in the digital ecosystem: Forming partnerships with institutions, research centers and specialized consultants can broaden perspectives and facilitate the adoption of innovative solutions.
Final thoughts
The “Data Economy for Internationalization” event demonstrated that the road to international competitiveness necessarily passes through digital innovation. Italian SMEs, with the right support and strategies, can face global challenges with confidence, turning big data and artificial intelligence into tools for growth and success.
At Roncucci&Partners we help companies develop themselves and their business, embrace change and evolve to thrive in a world that is increasingly complicated, insidious and requires great expertise. We do this by applying punctual methods and rigorous strategies, the result of many years of experience and the richness of the numerous success stories we have conducted all over the world. Passion and method are indeed our guides to enhance the present and build the future.
