I remember my young days when one of my close relatives started working as an Insurance Agent, and it was considered to be a precious job. A few days back when I met him, I asked him – Has the latest technology affected your work? I was expecting a negative answer, but instead, he showed me the flip side of how insurtech is helping him make a more personalized and long-term relationships. While some of the mundane jobs like data entry, reminders, quotes comparison, underwriting has been taken up by the insurtech technology, individuals, business owners or firms are yet inclined to interact with a human being and close the deal.

He mentioned a couple of analogies to strengthen his case – he said e-commerce industry in India that is worth US$125 billion as of April 2017 was not able to displace the brick and mortar industry. Or has the automobile industry removed pedestrians from the road?

Or the most important one – has the digitization removed the government agents that help citizens in getting their vehicle registered or apply for the PAN card?

Or has the financial inclusion initiative detached Banking agents or business correspondents from the chain? With a big smile on his face, he was sure digital move will only enhance his powers as insurance agents and not displace them.

Let’s take a look “HOW INSURTECH WOULD STRENGTHEN INSURANCE AGENT”

CHATBOTS HELPING IN CONVERSATION

Let’s accept it, on the one hand, people are busy and may not be available for sales pitch even it’s a tedious job for the insurance agent to repeat the same introduction to every prospective client, and that’s why – chatbots are handy. Start a conversation at your ease, and get full information handy. If you are satisfied, book an appointment with the agent, and he would come and guide you further.

DATA DATA EVERYWHERE

InsurTech is helping the insurance firms in churning the data that supports them in analyzing their needs and preferences. The same data could be used by insurance agents to grab more clients. Just for example if an individual is a wanderlust, he might be more interested in getting customized travel insurance rather than home or term insurance. Such kind of data when provided to an insurance agent, he could use his expertise to present a sales pitch to the client and help him in also getting customization if needed.

VALUE ADDED SERVICES

While play store may be filled with apps that provide dos and don’ts of insurance, individuals expect a human touch that offers “personalization with freebies.” Insurance agents could tap into this domain by also offering value-added services to make their client feel special. Just for example – using a robo advisor to generate a financial planning portfolio for your prospective client could help in trusting the agents and building a long-term relationship.
Undoubtedly technologies’ like Artificial Intelligence[AI], Natural Language Processing [NLP] would help in improving the financial decision, but they are also strengthening the agents in providing value-added services and making it a more engaging experience.

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References:

https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/asia/news/breaking-news/tech-to-complement-not-replace-insurance-50228.aspx

https://dailyfintech.com/2017/11/30/insurtechisagentspinach/
https://www.insurancejournal.com/magazines/mag-features/2017/04/03/446012.htm

Smart Machines & Smarter Humans: AI in the Manufacturing Industry

By : Sampada S M

Published on Feb 19, 2025

AI Artificial Intelligence Manufacturing

We have all witnessed Industrial Revolutions reshape manufacturing, not just once, but multiple times throughout history. Yet perhaps “revolution” isn’t quite the right word. These were transitions, careful orchestrations of human adaptation, and technological advancement. From hand production to machine tools, from steam power to assembly lines, each transition proved something remarkable: as machines evolved, human capabilities expanded rather than diminished.

Take the First Industrial Revolution, where the shift from manual production to machinery didn’t replace craftsmen, it transformed them into skilled machine operators. The steam engine didn’t eliminate jobs; it created entirely new categories of work. When chemical manufacturing processes emerged, they didn’t displace workers; they birthed manufacturing job roles. With each advancement, the workforce didn’t shrink—it evolved, adapted, and ultimately thrived.

Today, we’re witnessing another manufacturing transformation on factory floors worldwide. But unlike the mechanical transformations of the past, this one is digital, driven by artificial intelligence(AI) working alongside human expertise. Just as our predecessors didn’t simply survive the mechanical revolution but mastered it, today’s workforce isn’t being replaced by AI in manufacturing, they’re becoming AI conductors, orchestrating a symphony of smart machines, industrial IoT (IIoT), and intelligent automation that amplify human productivity in ways the steam engine’s inventors could never have imagined.

Let’s explore how this new breed of human-AI collaboration is reshaping manufacturing, making work not just smarter, but fundamentally more human.

Tools and Techniques Enhancing Workforce Productivity

1. Augmented Reality: Bringing Instructions to Life

AI-powered augmented reality (AR) is revolutionizing assembly lines, equipment, and maintenance on factory floors. Imagine a technician troubleshooting complex machinery while wearing AR glasses that overlay real-time instructions. Microsoft HoloLens merges physical environments with AI-driven digital overlays, providing immersive step-by-step guidance. Meanwhile, PTC Vuforia’s AR solutions offer comprehensive real-time guidance and expert support by visualizing machine components and manufacturing processes. Ford’s AI-driven AR applications of HoloLens have cut design errors and improved assembly efficiency, making smart manufacturing more precise and faster.

2. Vision-Based Quality Control: Flawless Production Lines

Identifying minute defects on fast-moving production lines is nearly impossible for the human eye, but AI-driven computer vision systems are revolutionizing quality control in manufacturing. Landing AI customizes AI defect detection models to identify irregularities unique to a factory’s production environment, while Cognex’s high-speed image recognition solutions achieve up to 99.9% defect detection accuracy. With these AI-powered quality control tools, manufacturers have reduced inspection time by 70%, improving the overall product quality without halting production lines.

3. Digital Twins: Simulating the Factory in Real Time

Digital twins—virtual replicas of physical assets are transforming real-time monitoring and operational efficiency. Siemens MindSphere provides a cloud-based AI platform that connects factory equipment for real-time data analytics and actionable insights. GE Digital’s Predix enables predictive maintenance by simulating different scenarios to identify potential failures before they happen. By leveraging AI-driven digital twins, industries have reported a 20% reduction in downtime, with the global digital twin market projected to grow at a CAGR of 61.3% by 2028

4. Human-Machine Interfaces: Intuitive Control Panels

Traditional control panels are being replaced by intuitive AI-powered human-machine interfaces (HMIs) which simplify machine operations and predictive maintenance. Rockwell Automation’s FactoryTalk uses AI analytics to provide real-time performance analytics, allowing operators to anticipate machine malfunctions and optimize operations. Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure incorporates predictive analytics to simplify maintenance schedules and improve decision-making.

5. Generative AI: Crafting Smarter Factory Layouts

Generative AI is transforming factory layout planning by turning it into a data-driven process. Autodesk Fusion 360 Generative Design evaluates thousands of layout configurations to determine the best possible arrangement based on production constraints. This allows manufacturers to visualize and select the most efficient setup, which has led to a 40% improvement in space utilization and a 25% reduction in material waste. By simulating layouts, manufacturers can boost productivity, efficiency and worker safety.

6. Wearable AI Devices: Hands-Free Assistance

Wearable AI devices are becoming essential tools for enhancing worker safety and efficiency on the factory floor. DAQRI smart helmets provide workers with real-time information and alerts, while RealWear HMT-1 offers voice-controlled access to data and maintenance instructions. These AI-integrated wearable devices are transforming the way workers interact with machinery, boosting productivity by 20% and reducing machine downtime by 25%.

7. Conversational AI: Simplifying Operations with Voice Commands

Conversational AI is simplifying factory operations with natural language processing (NLP), allowing workers to request updates, check machine status, and adjust schedules using voice commands. IBM Watson Assistant and AWS AI services make these interactions seamless by providing real-time insights. Factories have seen a reduction in response time for operational queries thanks to these tools, with IBM Watson helping streamline machine monitoring and decision-making processes.

Conclusion: The Future of Manufacturing Is Here

Every industrial revolution has sparked the same fear, machines will take over. But history tells a different story. With every technological leap, humans haven’t been replaced; they’ve adapted, evolved, and found new ways to work smarter. AI is no different. It’s not here to take over; it’s here to assist, making factories faster, safer, and more productive than ever.

From AR-powered guidance to AI-driven quality control, the factory floor is no longer just about machinery, it’s about collaboration between human expertise and intelligent systems. And at Mantra Labs, we’re diving deep into this transformation, helping businesses unlock the true potential of AI in manufacturing.

Want to see how AI-powered Augmented Reality is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry? Stay tuned for our next blog, where we’ll explore how AI in AR is reshaping assembly, troubleshooting, and worker training—one digital overlay at a time.

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