Why do good automation projects start with a conversation, not with technology?

Starting automation projects

In the world of industrial automation, it is easy to be tempted to start a project by choosing the technology: a robot, a vision system or a PLC solution. However, the best implementations do not start with technical specifications, but with dialogue. With a conversation that allows you to understand the business context, limitations and real goals of the customer.

What is the concept stage of automation implementation really about?

The concept stage is not a prelude to the „actual project”. It is its foundation.

As Krzysztof Gad, Head of Concept & Technology Department at Nextomation, emphasises:

„In the first stage, we focus heavily on dialogue and conversation with the customer, because in order to even begin to create a concept, we need to thoroughly understand the customer’s specific needs.”

On the one hand, the Nextomation team works closely with the client, identifying their business goals and challenges. On the other hand, a coherent concept is developed within the organisation, which enables the implementation, design and commissioning departments to implement the solution and bring the indicators to the expected level.

The concept stage is when the project ceases to be an abstract idea and becomes a realistic action plan.

How do we identify the real automation needs of our clients at Nextomation?

Every project starts with the question: what does the customer want to achieve? Is it about improving quality by eliminating the human factor? Increasing line efficiency? Or perhaps shortening order fulfilment times?

However, identifying needs is not just about discussing goals. It also involves analysing limitations:

• space in the hall, 
• budget, 
• deadlines imposed by end customers.

On this basis, a tailor-made concept is developed – sometimes it will be a fully automatic line, sometimes semi-automatic, and sometimes manual.

As Krzysztof Gad emphasises: „Importantly, it happens that the customer knows they want to improve something, but does not know exactly what and how. In such situations, the concept team analyses the process directly on the production floor and proposes specific improvements along with their consequences.

It is through discussion and joint analysis that the ‘golden mean’ between technology and real business needs can be found.

As McKinsey’s analyses show, most digital transformations are not entirely successful, mainly due to a lack of clearly defined goals and insufficient stakeholder engagement. This confirms that a project should start with a conversation and an understanding of the business context, rather than with the choice of technology.

Limitations as a starting point in automation design

Constraints are not an obstacle – they are a starting point.

Budget, location, time, quality requirements and industry standards force creative thinking. As Krzysztof Gad emphasises, openness and a willingness to look for solutions even where they seem unobvious are key.

Nextomation’s twenty years of experience shows that there is always a solution – sometimes it requires additional work on the part of the customer, sometimes it is unusual, but partnership-based cooperation allows it to be developed.

Innovation very often arises precisely where there are limitations.

From idea to automation implementation: testing and simulations

Discussion and concept are the beginning. The next step is verification. As emphasised by the Head of Concept & Technology Department at Nextomation, the team draws on both its experience and completed projects, as well as new technologies available on the market. If the situation requires it, tests, feasibility studies and simulations of solutions are carried out.

This approach reduces investment risk and ensures that innovation does not remain just a concept, but becomes a real implementation with measurable results.

Nextomation: an automation project begins with understanding

At Nextomation, the Concept and Technology Department does more than just respond to enquiries. It creates new solutions, researches technologies, proposes non-standard approaches and seeks solutions that often do not yet exist in a ready-made form.

It is this combination of:

• dialogue with the customer, 
• analysis of limitations, 
• design experience, 
• testing and simulation 

is what makes an automation project start with a conversation – and only then with technology.

According to the World Economic Forum, the future of advanced manufacturing should be human-centric – focused on people, processes and business context, with technology coming second.

From concept to real-world automation implementation

Would you like to learn more about the concept stage, customer needs analysis, and turning innovation into real implementation?

Watch an interview with Krzysztof Gad, Head of Concept & Technology Department at Nextomation, who talks about the work of the Concept and Technology Department and how good automation projects start with a conversation.

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