An intelligent workshop in Rudong, Nantong. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

At Lianyi Electromechanical in Rudong, the expansive production floor buzzes with the sound of machines, yet workers are scarcely seen. "Our self-developed ERP and MES systems allow for intelligent order scheduling and real-time equipment data transmission," explained Zhou Yijun, executive vice-president of Lianyi Electromechanical.

The company has been pushing forward with digital transformation across all operations, from research and design to production and management. Currently, over 95 percent of the company's production equipment is networked, enabling the production of 48 billion capacitor shells annually, placing it among the top two global producers.

Intelligent and digital transformation refers to the combination of hardware and software. This approach involves updating organizational structures, redesigning processes, and integrating digital technologies to revitalize companies and change their development strategies.

In 2022, Rudong launched an action plan to achieve full coverage of this transformation across the county's 894 industrial enterprises above designated scale. This goal was reached in August.

Gold Hongye Paper Nantong, a local industry leader, has also integrated advanced technologies such as 5G and cloud computing to achieve comprehensive automation and precise tracking of logistics operations. The company's smart production workshop is fully automated, producing 780,000 metric tons of tissues annually, making it China's largest single-site household paper production base.

To address concerns about high transformation costs, unclear benefits, and insufficient capabilities, Rudong launched a government-funded service in July 2022 to help companies navigate the challenges of digital transformation, ensuring they are not only willing but also capable of making the shift.