Control systems + automation
Technology convergence is redefining competitive advantage A recently released World Economic Forum report indicates that competitive advantage is shiing from owning key technologies to combining them across data, people and ecosystems. It suggests that the next wave of competitive advantage will come not from individual breakthrough technologies but from the ability to combine and scale multiple technologies across entire operating systems. A s artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced materials, spatial
“Technology conver- gence has evolved from a technical discussion into a strategic leadership man- date with direct operational impact,” said Aiman Ezzat, CEO of Capgemini Group. “Competitive advantage
computing and next-generation energy systems mature si- multaneously, the organisations and countries moving fast- est to apply these technologies together in intelligent systems are already pulling ahead. The report, Technology Convergence: The New Logic for Compet- itive Advantage , produced in collaboration with Capgemini, draws on cross-industry research and real-world case studies in 12 sectors, identifying recurring patterns, including the blending of mature and experimental technologies and the blurring of industry boundaries, that determine whether convergence scales or stalls. “Breakthrough technologies are advancing rapidly, and value is created when they are applied together,” said Cathy Li, Head of the Centre for AI Excellence and Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum. “The real dierentiator is not who owns the most advanced tools, but who can combine them across systems and applications at scale.” As advanced technologies scale, the main bottlenecks to com- petitive advantage are no longer time or materials but how well organisations connect digital tools with physical operations. This is already playing out across sectors and geographies. From factory floors and power grids to research labs and healthcare, converging technologies are reshaping how systems perform worldwide. In the United Kingdom, surgical robots are extending clinicians’ capacity and preserving workflow continuity across care teams. In China, automated labs are linking robotics, AI and data platforms to accelerate discovery as they coordinate workflows across research networks.
increasingly depends on an organisation’s ability to integrate technologies, teams, partners and op- erating processes into co- herent systems that deliver value at scale. Leaders who master orchestration, not just adoption, are translating convergence into sustained performance and growth.” Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum added: “This shi£ has implications for companies as well as for national growth strategies and industrial policy. Economies that align talent, infra- structure, data and policy will be better positioned to capture the benefits of converging technologies in a fast-shi£ing global landscape.” The report is part of the World Economic Forum’s Technology Con- vergence Initiative, launched in 2024, and builds on the first edition published in 2025. It draws on two years of cross-industry research, including interviews with experts, workshops and case studies.
The advantage of combining technologies carries implications for companies as well as national growth strategies and industrial policy.
For more information visit: www.weforum.org
accurate positioning and torque this machine needs,” Steyn says. “The challenge was to deliver very high torque while maintaining precise synchronisation and feedback at high speeds.” He says it is easier to be accurate when machinery is moving slowly, but it becomes much more challenging in the context of high-speed machines like this one. SEW-EURODRIVE’s control architecture ensures that every motion – from the synchronised pulling of the ring to the positioning of the auto-tool change mechanism – is tracked and verified before the next cycle begins. “There is a great deal of feedback between the drive and the upper level controller,” Steyn explains. “The system scans the input data – the product types and can sizes – and adjusts torque and position in real time. It is the brain and the muscle working together.” Naidoo highlights the value of SEW-EURODRIVE’s integrated unit – the motor, gearbox and drive – which is already matched for torque and speed.
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“Apart from greasing the screws, there has been no major maintenance required and no drive failures at all,” he says. “That is a testament to the robustness of our overall design and the reliability of SEW-EURODRIVE equipment.” The customer was so impressed that it decided to standardise globally on Jendamark’s machines. “They had two other suppliers’ machines next to ours on the same line,” Naidoo says. “Now they’re replacing those with Jendamark machines, because of reliability and consistency of quality.” Advanced motion control Phillip Steyn, Branch Manager at SEW-EURODRIVE in Gqeberha, says the project exemplifies how advanced motion control systems enable complex automation. “Our MOVIAXIS multi-axis servo system, combined with our eicient servo motors and dynamic gearboxes, provides the
For more information visit: www.sew-eurodrive.co.za
JUNE 2026 Electricity + Control
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