Towards a More Digital Industry

(Original story by Elise Mangersnes/NCE Seafood Innovation)

A simple definition of the word “digitalisation” is to utilise the possibilities that digital technologies offer to improve, renew, and create something new. It often involves optimising processes, making them easier and more effective, or creating completely new products.

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Digitalisation is often associated with multiple terms, such as digital data (data or information that is digital). The process of converting analogue information to digital information is called “digitisation” (notice the two missing letters). Digital data is easier to share than analogue information, and data sharing, therefore, offers many possibilities.

Digital transformation

While digitalisation often refers to a single process, “digital transformation” is a more comprehensive operation. The term refers to a substantial change, as well as the process of redesigning a business at all levels.

To go through a digital transformation implies that the institution changes how it does its tasks, offers better services or products, works more efficiently, or creates completely new services. All these changes are driven by utilising digital technology in a smart way.  

How are things in the industry?

In recent years, a lot has happened in the industry when it comes to digitalisation and digital transformation.

For example, when Seafood Trainee visited Bolaks in Eikelandsosen, they got to see the operation room where they manage the feeding process.

The employees were sitting in front of big screens, focused (and comfortable) while operating the feeding remotely with help from cameras and sensors in the pens.

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Thanks to digital data, they can have more control over the feeding process, and this can have several positive effects on fish health and the environment around the pens. This is something Grieg Seafood does as well. On a land-based centre in Rogaland, they remotely feed 12 farms with a total of seven million fish.

Also, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority said that they are trying a more data-driven approach to the seafood industry, offering more efficient and better services. It’s also changing the way they do their tasks. In other words, it is a digital transformation.

All these examples show how businesses in the seafood industry utilise digital technologies and are therefore important steps toward digital transformation. However, Trond Kathenes, Grieg Seafood`s Chief Digital Officer, stated in an interview that the industry still is in the early stages of this transformation.

To be continued…

We do not know exactly what the future holds, but what we do know is that these two terms, and the processes they bring with them, can give increased knowledge, value creation, innovation, and productivity.

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Therefore, the cluster’s aim is to highlight the potential value creation of digital transformation and contribute to increased digitalisation through knowledge sharing across the seafood industry.

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Our organisation can provide information, and introductions to useful contacts, and even help find your ideal business location in Greater Bergen. If you’re interested in these services, simply get in touch with us today.