John VanNewkirk, CEO, CheckSum

The adage was as accurate as ever in 2020: Change is the Only Constant. While we are making progress developing new vaccines and adjusting our social norms, the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis has not subsided yet.

As such, we can expect change to continue in 2021. Regardless of how you feel about change, it has helped bring about new challenges and opportunities. Our industry is steadfast in its innovations and collaboration. Without question, this past year hastened improvements and taught us lessons, for instance digitalization.

According to a recent study, 62% of the participants in a recent America Marketing Association study confirmed that the importance of B2B marketing has grown during the pandemic. It plays a critical role in reaching customers to help in their research and decision-making processes, but the pandemic restrictions made it a challenge. Yet, forward-thinking companies see the growing value of marketing, especially the digital strategies.

The pandemic accelerated the effectiveness of digital approaches beyond marketing and sales. From online demonstrations and webinars to help educate, digitalization benefits spill over. With doors closed to visitors, suppliers had to pivot its strategies while remaining true to its vision of supporting customers. Consider the increased development and use of video-based training, remote troubleshooting, and online support.

What's more, digital solutions like real-time remote machine control, real-time process monitoring, and factory connectivity further improve manufacturing performance. If this year has taught us anything, it is that agility under pressure is golden for a resilient — even thriving — business.