Methods & research
How Leading Manufacturers Prioritise Digital Projects
Impact, effort, readiness and risk — a scoring approach that stops pet projects and funds the right ones.
Trikaan Research & Engineering4 min read
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Prioritise problems, not technologies.
- Score value, effort, readiness, risk and dependency consistently.
- Foundations — data capture and masters — often unlock several projects.
- Fund in stages, with gates based on measured results.
Most manufacturers have more digital ideas than budget: AI, IoT, dashboards, apps, a new ERP. Choosing badly wastes money and goodwill. Choosing well builds momentum.
Here is a simple, defensible way to prioritise.
Start with a problem list
List business problems with evidence — from assessments, loss trees and leadership priorities. Each idea must attach to a problem. Ideas without a problem go on a watch-list.
Score consistently
| Criterion | Scale 1–5 asks |
|---|---|
| Value | How much margin, output or cash is at stake? |
| Effort | How much change to process, data and systems? |
| Readiness | Is data available? Is the team willing? |
| Risk | What could go wrong, and how visible? |
| Dependency | Does it unlock other projects? |
Recognise foundations
Some projects create little value alone but enable many others: clean master data, shop-floor capture, ERP integration, machine connectivity. Score them on what they unlock. A roadmap that skips foundations ends up with impressive dashboards on unreliable data.
Sequence the roadmap
- Quick wins that build credibility.
- Foundations that unlock the next wave.
- Larger bets once data and adoption are proven.
- Stage gates with measured results before more funding.
Governance
A small steering group reviews the roadmap quarterly, adds new evidence and reorders priorities. Projects that miss their gate are paused or reshaped rather than pushed through.
Frequently asked questions
Should we start with AI?
Start with the problem. AI is often valuable once data capture and definitions are in place.
How long should a digital roadmap be?
Plan detail for six to twelve months, with a direction for two to three years.
Who should decide priorities?
A business-led steering group, with IT and operations represented.
What if leadership has a pet project?
Score it like the rest; transparency usually settles the debate.
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Trikaan Research & Engineering
Trikaan
Written by the researchers and engineers who build Anvaya, ASTR and Seed Track, with input from Trikaan's delivery and engineering teams.
