The demand is clearly shifting towards specialists in automation, robotics, control and software engineering, data analysis and predictive maintenance, supply chain and production optimization, as well as project and transformation management. Pure mechanical manufacturing expertise is no longer sufficient; interdisciplinary profiles that combine technology, IT, and processes are in demand.

Competition is no longer determined by machine quality alone, but by efficiency, data, and service integration. The industrial sector is transforming from traditional machine and plant engineering to digitized, networked, and service-oriented business models. Rising energy and material costs, volatile supply chains, and sustainability and CO₂ requirements are increasing the pressure for efficiency and innovation. At the same time, automation, robotics, IoT, and data-based services are creating new sources of revenue beyond pure product sales. Companies are increasingly evolving into solution and platform providers with software, service, and lifecycle businesses.