To kick off the second season of IT/OT Insider, we’re diving into the world of Digital Transformation, MES and change management with Bram Van Genabet. With a career that spans from refining oil at ExxonMobil over chocolate production at Barry Callebaut (Director of Digital Innovation) to his current role as independent consultant at La Lorraine Bakery Group (Director of Digital Strategy), Bram brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective on industrial digital transformation.
You really want to listen to this one..
we have a very cool announcement which we are sharing 😀
Setting the Scene for Digital Transformation
As we (David and Willem) settle back into our editorial chairs after summer, we couldn’t have asked for a more fitting guest to help us explore the themes of innovation and transformation that will define the next wave of content on The IT/OT Insider.
In our conversation, Bram emphasized that digital transformation is more than just a technological shift; it’s a fundamental change in how businesses operate.
"Successful digital transformation is about aligning digital initiatives with the core business strategy, ensuring that technology serves as an enabler rather than just an addition."
This alignment, according to Bram, is what separates successful digital transformations from those that fail to deliver real value.
The Shift from Innovation to Execution
One of the key takeaways from our interview is the critical importance of moving from innovation to execution. Bram notes that while many organizations excel at generating innovative ideas, the real challenge lies in execution:
“It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of new technology, but without a clear execution plan, those ideas rarely translate into tangible business outcomes.”
Bram’s approach underscores this philosophy. By focusing on scalable solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing operations, he’s driving meaningful change that not only improves efficiency but also enhances the overall customer experience.
Bram talked about these concepts at AVEVA World, you can watch his keynote here:
Special announcement
As we wrap up our conversation, there's still one more piece of exciting news to share…
Here it is:
We are super excited that Bram is joining our IT/OT Insider team 🙂
Or, as Bram himself puts it:
“Over the past year, I’ve been following IT/OT Insider closely, reading the insights shared here, and even discussing them with David and Willem at various conferences. What struck me most was how much the day-to-day experiences shared by them resonated with what I’ve encountered in my own journey.
Despite not knowing each other for that long, I’ve found that we have so many common points to talk about. That’s truly fascinating and what motivates me to join this platform. Over the last 10 to 12 years, I’ve dealt with many challenges around effective IT/OT cooperation—bringing different teams together, and navigating the complexities of people, processes, technology, and data.
When I talk with other practitioners, it’s clear we’re all struggling with very similar issues. I’ve often wondered if there’s a magical formula or methodology that can make us more successful in these transformations. While I’m realistic enough to know there’s probably no silver bullet, I do believe that by sharing our experiences and being open to learning from each other, we can get closer to finding better ways of doing things.
That’s why I’m so excited to join IT/OT Insider as a co-author. I see it as a fantastic platform to share our experiences, learn from one another, and build a stronger community within digital manufacturing. Whether it’s talking about mistakes or celebrating successes, I’m eager to contribute and engage with this incredible community.”
Welcome to the team, Bram !
Make sure to subscribe to receive or weekly in-depth articles, expert interviews, and insights. Next week, we will start a new series titled: “Unlocking Success in Digital Transformation”, especially focused on the implementation of Manufacturing Execution System (MES) projects. 🎉
Bram Van Genabet joins The IT/OT Insider