More than 66% of US manufacturers report most or all of their IT infrastructure is now in the cloud.

According to International Data Corporation (IDC), tablet market shipments reached 11.8 million units in EMEA in the second quarter of 2021. This represents a 1.7% YoY decline, the first negative quarter since the start of the pandemic. A slowdown in consumer demand was the main driver of the contraction. Nevertheless, volumes remain significantly above the pre-pandemic period which indicates an increase in the total addressable market. In comparison with 2Q19, the tablet market increased 22.4%.

"Market performance was affected by the unfavorable YoY comparison, as 2Q20 witnessed an avalanche of shipments to address home learning and entertainment," said Nikolina Jurisic, associate research director, IDC. "Slate tablets lost popularity as social restrictions eased, whereas detachable tablets continued on a strong positive trajectory, gaining from the notebook-like experience, new product launches, and versatility that supports hybrid working and learning."

Vendor Highlights

Samsung remained the market leader in EMEA, fueled by the strong position it holds in emerging markets. Apple retained second position in EMEA and remains the solid leader in less price-sensitive countries, where often the iPad is the preferred choice for education deals. Lenovo posted a considerable market share growth, capitalizing on the strong decline of important names in the smart connected device space such as Huawei. TCL made its first appearance in the top 5 ranking, leveraging its presence in telco and expansion into the commercial segment. Amazon retained its 5th position and maintains its dominance in the entry-level price points.

"As we approach a near-normal scenario, we expect to see some of the trends that were shaping the market before the pandemic coming back, namely the increase in enterprise adoption," said Daniel Goncalves, research manager, IDC Western Europe Personal Computing Devices. "Ultra-mobile devices will regain momentum in the commercial segment, as use cases for which tablets were widely adopted, such as customer facing roles, become the norm across verticals again."

Globalization questioned by almost half of those surveyed, with many advocating for trade barriers
Decline in trust and ambivalence likely a symptom exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic
For fair outcomes, governments need to work with local officials to create policies related to the environment, jobs and tax, expert says
Public perception of globalization has declined over the past two years, with almost half unsure of its benefits and more than one-third advocating for trade barriers.

Public opinion poll finds three in four think it will take at least two years for economies to recover and point to infrastructure, new jobs, and increased tourism as lead indicators
Responsibility to lead this economic recovery falls to both government and businesses, but civil society plays a crucial role and must not be left behind
Current trends towards green finance, ESG metrics and inclusivity practices point towards an inclusive and sustainable recovery

Constantly evolving value chains, market innovations, and cutting-edge technology developments have pushed 3D printing into the mainstream market. This type of production has surged in recent years, and a growing number of businesses use 3D printing solutions, allowing speed and flexibility while reducing costs.

The high-volume production of silica aerogel products is not a new business. Despite being known since the 1930s, the adoption of the ultralightweight insulator has faced many false-starts across the 20th century; the commercial ramp-up has only been seen in the last two decades, but it has still not been the rapid profitable expansion model that many hoped.

Higher market pulp, wood product, paper packaging and commodity paper prices will offset higher fiber, chemical, energy and transportation costs

Global demand for bio-derived solvents, pigments, additives, resins used in inks is accelerating fast as brands and print service providers across all segments look to minimise their impact on the environment.

bsolut Vodka’s paper bottle to revitalise declining paper and board pack type in West Europe spirit segment, says GlobalData

Robotics play a huge role in the manufacturing landscape today. A growing number of businesses use manufacturing robots to automate repetitive tasks, reduce errors, and enable their employees to focus on innovation and efficiency, causing the entire sector's impressive growth.

FuturePrint has announced the launch of the Vision Report 2021, which has drawn on the experiences, opinions, and predictions of the growing roster of FuturePrint partner businesses. The report includes reflections on 2020, a 2021 ‘Trend Watch’, print sector spotlights, and partner insights into leadership and adaptability.

– Full-scale production runs shift from tens to hundreds of thousands

– Additive manufacturing proven for supply chain resilience during the pandemic

– New materials expectations alongside growing applications