To meet the world’s need for materials and industrial goods, manufacturing must reinvent itself through innovation, digitisation and automation.
In the Fourth Industrial Revolution, manufacturers are a beacon of innovation - embracing the use of such as automation, 3D printing and AI to boost their productivity, efficiency and agility. Companies - for example within wholesale, agriculture, mining and technical services, together forming the Make domain - are already using these advances to reinvent themselves. As a result of these efforts, up to US$1.8 trillion of manufacturing revenues could be redistributed in 2025.
Other powerful catalysts include the need to insulate supply chains from climate shocks, the push to improve sustainability and circularity, the growing demand for workers with specialised skills, and the impact of geopolitical tensions on trade routes. Together, they’re combining to forge a major sectoral reconfiguration in manufacturing.
The Move domain is at the heart of transformation in the Netherlands, shaping the way goods and people move across cities, regions, and borders. With a strong foundation in logistics, automotive, and transportation, Dutch businesses are uniquely positioned to lead the charge in reinventing mobility. From the global gateway of the Port of Rotterdam to the advanced infrastructure of Schiphol Airport, our nation’s economy thrives on smart, efficient movement.
As electrification accelerates, Dutch manufacturers in heavy-duty vehicles, cycling subsectors and luxury yachts are rising to the challenge. They are reimagining their operations to align with sustainability goals while pioneering innovation in business models and technology. Whether it's transitioning to clean tech or building the future of mobility, the Netherlands remains a fertile ground for progress and collaboration.
"Mobility is evolving - clean tech, digital innovation, and ecosystem integration are reshaping how we move. Megatrends like AI adoption are pushing value chains redevelopment, with tech companies emerging as potential competitors or collaborators. We empower you to transform and build cross-domain partnerships to create a more connected future.”
Businesses that grasp the full potential of the Make domain will have the edge in 2035.
To obtain a quantitative picture of what the Make domain might look like in 2035, we modelled the potential global economic impact of two of the most pressing megatrends: technological disruption (specifically disruption from AI) and climate change. The result is three divergent scenarios, corresponding to a range of outcomes, from a low of $33.91 trillion to a high of $36.84 trillion.
The nature and scale of the new business opportunities that emerge in the Make domain will depend on how AI adoption and climate action progress. Your strategy should account for a range of possible outcomes. Three scenarios can help leaders in the Make domain consider what the future might bring.
Demand for goods and equipment that cause minimal harm to the environment – along with strict environmental regulations – encourages businesses to embrace sustainable sourcing and production practices. Waste reduction and resource circularity become governing concepts for successful manufacturing firms. Technology firms develop AI and data-security tools to promote transparency and efficiency along value chains.
A materials science company bioengineers an environmentally safe, waste-free method for producing high-performance industrial fibres by cultivating genetically modified yeast in tanks. The complex production process is streamlined by AI and a secure IOT device network, with output informed by digital forecasting tools and an integrated inventory-management platform.
Conflicts over land use, resources and migration lead to political and economic fragmentation along regional lines. Companies prioritise smaller-scale, local manufacturing and shorten supply chains to achieve operational resilience and conform to the particular standards of each region. They also seek efficiency gains and resource security through reuse and recycling, contributing to an active market for after-life goods and materials.
A business specialising in the reclamation and recycling of corrosion-resistant composite materials develops a cloud-based subscription platform. The new platform enables aerospace firms, flooring companies and marine manufacturers to easily sign up for offtake services and thereby reduce disposal costs. Revenue—and a reliable stream of raw materials—from a growing subscription base prompts the recycling company to pilot a new business producing modular building components from reclaimed composites.
Poor resource management causes intense geopolitical conflicts over raw materials, leading to disruptions in global supply chains. Companies localise their procurement of raw materials and invest in developing alternative materials. Meanwhile, with few incentives to buy reusable or recyclable goods, consumers increasingly value convenience and speed over sustainability. Companies respond by prioritising low-cost production.
By subscribing to a robotics-as-a-service platform and using AI-assisted anomaly detection on the factory floor—and by shifting to regionally procured plastics and components—a medium-sized appliance manufacturer shortens its production cycle and reduces costs. The changes enable it to introduce a line of refrigerators at a radically lower price than those of its competitors.
The process of reinvention needs to start now, with a focus on priorities that respond to the reconfiguration that’s already underway. This means driving hard towards a set of innovation imperatives, securing competitive advantages in areas such as technology and trust, and turning obstacles such as climate threats into enablers of growth.
Select from the nine domains below to learn how they are forming, the size of the opportunity and how to seize the value in motion.
Partner Industrial Manufacturing & Automotive, PwC Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)62 233 25 30