Adopt Industry 4.0 tech or get left behind, MSMEs urged

Micro,
small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) should start adopting Industry 4.0
technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and
automation, to avoid being left behind as this digital shift helps them
stay competitive, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. 



Marlene De Luna, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Rizal senior
trade industry development specialist, said they can embrace AI and
other digital technologies to improve business operations while
continuing to combine digital and traditional marketing strategies.



"But we are not saying that we will leave everything up to that kind of
technology because human intervention is still needed… So it will help,
but it is still up to us how we utilize it, how we improve it, and how
to make it effective in our operations,” she said in Filipino during a
recent seminar organized by the DTI Rizal and Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) Rizal.



DOST Rizal officer-in-charge Provincial Director engineer Mhark Ellgine
Libao said Industry 4.0 technologies are not exclusive to large
corporations as MSMEs can adopt tools also like Internet of Things
(IoT), big data analytics and cybersecurity.



“Industry 4.0 is the use of digital technologies to make businesses
smarter, faster, more efficient, and more competitive. And Industry 4.0
is not only for big factories, you do not need to be a large company to
use Industry 4.0 technologies. As an MSME, we can start using small 4.0
technologies as early as now,” he said in mixed English and Filipino.



Libao said cloud computing enables businesses to store files and use
applications such as Google Drive and online accounting platforms over
the internet, while AI can help generate marketing captions and produce
personalized promotional videos to support sales.



He said IoT allows businesses, particularly farms, to use smart sensors
to monitor irrigation and fertilizer requirements; while data analytics
helps firms forecast demand, plan production and track sales using
dashboards and spreadsheets.



AI voice assistants are also increasingly being used to automate tasks in homes and businesses, he added.



He said utilizing Industry 4.0 technologies also helps them capture busy
online shoppers round-the-clock through 24-hour chatbots, automated
search tools, and optimized resource management that minimizes material
waste.    



But Libao said that while technology can make business operations
easier, it also requires cybersecurity measures such as strong passwords
and regular data backups to protect MSMEs from cyber threats.

August 04, 2026