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However, according to the AlixPartners forecast, the picture will change by 2020: by then, various digital tools for simulation will be used by more than 90% of machine manufacturers and will have a positive impact on the entire value chain. According to the AlixPartners analysis, digital technologies promise further efficiency gains in production: Store floor management based on real-time data analysis, 'modular manufacturing' with flexible workstations, 'augmented operation' or human-machine teams - so-called 'cobots' (pictured) - are examples of how new approaches can improve processes and increase productivity, particularly in production.