‘Textile industry needs digitisation’

Sector asked to embrace digital transformation to channelise its potential

KARACHI:

Pakistan’s textile industry is lagging behind in adoption of digitisation compared to other sectors which is driving inefficiency and low productivity among units, said Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP) former president Majyd Aziz.

Addressing a session on the textile industry on Wednesday, he stressed that the textile sector must embrace digital transformation to channelise its potential.

“To be digital or not to be digital is no longer an option,” he said.

According to him, some of the reasons hindering digitisation in the textile sector included the nebulous nature of the industry, lack of awareness of digital tools and absence of a proper business environment to enable the digital transformation.

He was of the view that modern technologies not only aid the establishment of new business models by responding to changing customers’ needs but also enhance working conditions and production processes.

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“They ensure better management of hazardous stock, safer working environment, better workforce coordination and improved equipment monitoring,” he said.

Aziz directed the garment manufacturers of the Asia-Pacific region to share better practices and display unity despite the intense intra-regional competition and race to grab large chunks of global market share.

Citing examples of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations, he emphasised the need to establish a shared platform to promote, protect and project common interests.

According to him, it would ensure sustainability, resilience and productivity of the industry.

In comments to The Express Tribune, Topline Securities analyst Saad Ziker said that the textile sector, being one of the largest contributors to Pakistan’s economy, needed digital transformation.

The textile industry has a low score in the overall spectrum of digital adoption as compared to other industry players, which resulted in less efficiency and productivity in the sector.

By adopting digital transformation, the textile industry can witness significant improvements in production and supply chain, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2021.

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