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Key Trends in Industry are Green Transition, Global uncertainty and New Technologies

How do industrial companies see the future of their field? What opportunities and challenges do the green transition, market instability, and new technologies bring?

We explored these questions in our survey, which gathered insights from 265 industrial decision-makers and experts across Finland.

Respondents represented a wide range of sectors, with the most prominent being technology, energy, maintenance, and chemical industries. The research agency Vastakaiku conducted the survey on behalf of Sarlin.

 

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Common Trends Cutting Across Industrial Sectors

  • Global uncertainty is affecting logistics, raw material availability, and supply chains.
  • A shortage of skilled professionals may slow down innovation.
  • The green transition is creating both pressure and opportunity for change.
  • Regulatory changes are impacting business potential.
  • AI and digitalization are opening up new possibilities, especially in product development.
  • Energy prices are increasing cost and efficiency pressures.

 

 

 

Key development areas identified in the survey include:

  • Gas and energy solutions, where the green transition is seen as a major opportunity.
  • Automation and digital solutions, where AI and emerging technologies are reshaping the field.
  • Lifecycle services, whose importance is growing in step with sustainability.
  • Compressed air systems, where energy efficiency and smart technologies stand out.

 

Global Uncertainty Impacts Energy Prices and Supply Chains

“The global market situation is a major challenge right now.”
— Respondent from the compressed air sector

Both in Finland and globally, businesses face rising energy costs, supply chain disruptions, and high raw material prices. These challenges push companies to plan better and improve operational efficiency in response to growing cost pressures.

“The prices of spare parts have completely spiraled out of control.”
— Respondent from the gas and energy sector

Still, uncertainty also creates room for renewal. Many companies see technology as a way forward: AI, automation, and digitalization are key tools to improve efficiency and manage costs.

Respondents believe smart systems can optimize processes, predict maintenance needs, and reduce energy consumption. At the same time, challenges like cybersecurity and network reliability were mentioned as concerns.

The green transition also encourages the development of new energy-efficient solutions that can lead to new business opportunities.

Green Transition Drives Investments and Partner Choices – Clearer Regulation Needed

“The green transition is not just about improving current operations. It will also open up entirely new technological opportunities – like hydrogen production and biogas.”
— Representative from the gas and energy sector

While companies move forward at different paces, the green transition is reshaping the entire industrial landscape. Sustainability goals are increasingly influencing decision-making and investment strategies.

Key areas of focus include:

  • Improving resource efficiency
  • Transitioning to renewable energy sources
  • Working toward carbon-neutral production

Sustainability is becoming a key factor in choosing partners. Companies now expect concrete proof of responsibility, such as reports, public goals, and certifications.

“We want our partners to commit to our sustainability targets, like reducing carbon footprints. They need to share the same mindset.”
— Respondent in lifecycle services

Challenges around the green transition include high costs, investment needs, and technical issues with equipment durability and recyclability. Skills shortages and training needs are also causes for concern, though many also see the shift as a positive opportunity.

The transition is also slowed by evolving regulations and political uncertainty. In areas like hydrogen, regulatory frameworks are still being developed.

“Regulation for the hydrogen business is still forming. It’ll be interesting to see how it develops.”
— Respondent from the gas and energy sector

“We never know what new rules or decisions tomorrow might bring. We’d like to see more long-term thinking.”
— Respondent from the gas and energy sector

A lack of unified sustainability metrics also complicates supplier comparisons and supply chain monitoring. Even if companies have ethical guidelines or responsibility agreements in place, tracking compliance across the supply chain remains challenging.

While sustainability is gaining importance, companies hope it won’t increase costs — instead, it should become a natural part of efficient operations.

Shortage in Skills Slows Down Innovation

“The shortage of skilled professionals keeps getting worse. We’re hiring constantly but can’t find the right people. We need more expertise in safety tech and automated systems to secure processes.”
— Respondent from the automation sector

Future talent will need both knowledge of traditional production processes and the ability to apply new technologies. This enables agile product development and helps companies respond to change and create new business. Most in-demand skills include:

  • AI and machine learning applications
  • Understanding new energy technologies and related legislation.
  • Integration of automation systems 

“We need skilled resources and professionals in technical design. Our operations are still new. If green transition projects really take off, it raises the question of how to execute them.”
— Respondent from the gas and energy sector

There’s also a link between the skills shortage and occupational safety. As automation increases, safety challenges must be addressed – especially in the compressed air sector.

Many respondents also feel that their own in-house expertise is not enough. Partners are expected to bring new know-how as well.

Strong Partnerships Help Navigate Change

“Cooperation and partnerships are crucial. That’s what we’re looking for in many areas – long-term collaboration.”
— Respondent from the lifecycle services sector

In a constantly shifting environment, strong partnerships play a key role. The right partners help companies adapt and build a more sustainable future.

  • When choosing partners, industrial decision-makers emphasize:
  • Strong expertise
  • Reliability
  • Delivery performance
  • Smooth cooperation
  • Technologically and financially optimal solutions 

Sarlin is seen as a forward-looking player that can meet future challenges thanks to its long-standing experience and broad expertise.

Our proactive approach to solution development – especially in the green transition – is often highlighted. Our equipment-independent services and wide offering enable solutions tailored to customer needs. 

“We’ve built things where no ready-made model existed. And we’ve managed to put it together and find solutions.”
— Customer in the gas and energy sector 
Our lifecycle services are at the core of our partnerships. They ensure production efficiency, operational reliability, and energy savings — delivering measurable benefits to our customers.

“We’ve outsourced our maintenance and it’s operated remotely. That takes pressure off our fixed costs and staff resources.”
— Compressed air customer