As the aerospace industry rapidly embraces digital capabilities to enhance productivity and operational efficiency, it’s clear that digital transformation is becoming a cornerstone of long-term success. This shift offers significant opportunities but the journey is not without its challenges. Limited resources, skills gaps, and uncertainty around where to start often hold smaller businesses back. That’s where collaboration and targeted support come in.
Led by ADS Group, the Digital Transformation for Aerospace & Defence Special Interest Group (DTAD) exists to promote, facilitate, and accelerate the adoption of digital technologies across the entire product and service lifecycle in the sector. Through shared knowledge, best practices, and engagement with emerging solutions, DTAD empowers companies of all sizes, including SMEs, to unlock greater performance, sustainability, and growth.
One of the biggest hurdles to digital advancement is the access to talent. Traditional hiring practices, based on rigid job titles and qualifications, are falling short in today’s rapidly evolving environment. Skills-based hiring is emerging as a critical approach to help aerospace organisations—especially SMEs build adaptable, future-ready digital workforces.
In this blog, we hear from DTAD Steering Committee member, Adam Smith – Inspiring Group, as he explores how shifting to a skills-first mindset can support innovation and resilience across the industry and why it is key to unlocking the full potential of digital transformation.
What does ‘digital transformation’ mean for SMEs?
A good part of my childhood was during the 1980s. Home computing was in its infancy, and I was a proud owner (well, shared with my two brothers) of a ZX Spectrum 48k, followed by the 128k version. Then the 1990s arrived, and I recall being mesmerised by the graphical capabilities of the Commodore Amiga, although I forget which version we owned.
I then entered the workforce in the late 1990s. My first boss was officially the Purchasing Manager, although he was also a bit of an IT whizz and built several systems that we used both internally and externally. Our internal communications were essentially emails, but our external communications then were ‘auto-faxes’, in that we could write messages on our PCs, and they would end up printing out on the fax machines at our supplier’s and customer’s premises!
Looking back on my career so far, much of which has been spent in manufacturing, I’ve had a lot of exposure to the evolution of software and hardware, now usually called ‘digital technology’. Whilst I have worked for two £1bn+ global corporations, with plenty of money and people at their disposal, most of my career has been spent working for and with organisations in the £5m to £80m turnover bracket. I therefore thought it might be helpful to share what I’ve learned about digital technology in the SME space during this time.
Challenges for SMEs
- The phrases ‘digitalisation’ and ‘digital transformation’ can sometimes be white noise to senior managers. They keep hearing about how they need to embrace tech, or risk getting left behind, but it is such a tangle of solutions, offered by a plethora of providers, that people often don’t know where to start.
- Most senior managers within SMEs wear multiple hats. It’s difficult for them to find time to properly research and coordinate digital improvements.
- Likewise, the workforce that is expected to use the new tech are often busy spinning many plates. I appreciate people are also stretched in larger organisations, but there is usually a larger support network and therefore employees can often be seconded into teams to deliver digital projects.
- Tech doesn’t always save time. I don’t need to tell anybody how the explosion of social media and communication applications such as email, WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams, and so forth, can be huge time suckers. Control exposure to them, otherwise they will control you.
- Many of the larger software providers are not really chasing business from SMEs. They are, understandably, looking for clients with scale, and set themselves up to service them. This means that their onboarding and subscription fees are simply too high for most SMEs.
Benefits
- Despite the challenges mentioned above, putting in the hard yards upfront can often provide impressive benefits months or years later. Why?
- Process times can be reduced, both in terms of making your product or delivering your service, and the resulting documents and reporting that goes with it.
- More visibility of what you are doing. You think you know what’s happening in your company, but often you don’t!
- The ability to provide more innovative products and services, which can lead to new markets, revenue growth, and higher profit margins.
- The life of your assets can be prolonged by digitally monitoring them, diagnosing issues, and fixing them before they become cost sinks.
- Reducing human stress. The sheer number of things we have to remember, and the activities we have to carry out, can be eased if we are able to automate some of them.
- Attracting the next generation of workers is easier if you are using digital technology. Remember that they grew up with it.
- There are plenty of smaller software providers offering plug-and-play software solutions, which are certainly affordable for SMEs.
- Nowadays, you don’t need to commit for multiple years. Many of the plug-and- play options have free trial periods, and are then offered on rolling monthly contracts, so you can try them out and pull the plug if they don’t work.
To conclude, there is always something you can improve, and marginal gains now could turn into something spectacular in the future. There is help out there, and some of it doesn’t cost you anything, other than your time.
A final point worth noting for owners of smaller companies; getting everything out of your head and into systems might feel a little scary, but if you want to sell your business in the future then a potential buyer will feel more comfortable if there is strong data visibility.
What Next?
To succeed in today’s aerospace industry, SMEs must actively embrace digitalisation streamlining processes, adopting the right technologies, and tackling the unique challenges they face.
ADS Group is here to support your digitalisation journey through the Digital Transformation for Aerospace & Defence SIG (DTAD). By connecting you with expertise, resources, and a collaborative network, we help SMEs accelerate their digital progress and unlock new opportunities.
1. ADS Digital Toolkit
Our new Digital Toolkit for SMEs brings together tailored resources, expert guidance and practical tools to help members navigate complex digital requirements and leverage the full potential of digital transformation for growth. Go to the toolkit here.
If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Reuben.gomez@adsgroup.org or our digital query inbox at Digitalqueries@adsgroup.org.uk; or join the Digital Transformation for Aerospace & Defence SIG (DTAD) to get more involved.
2. ADS Digital Query Platform – Your Peer-to-Peer Advice Tool
DTAD has launched its Digital Query Platform – a member-to-member advice service designed to help you navigate digital challenges and opportunities.
How it works:
- Ask a Question – Submit your query via a short online form. Topics could include adopting new technologies, streamlining processes, or overcoming digital challenges.
- Connect with Experts – Your question will be shared with contributing ADS members who have volunteered to provide practical advice and insights. View full list below.
- Get Tailored Advice – Receive guidance from peers with relevant experience to help you find solutions.
- Explore Opportunities – Advising members can also connect with you to discuss collaboration or business development.
Find out more about the platform, and submit your questions, here.
3. ADS Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) Framework
Improve your operational performance with our proven industry approved capability programmes and pathways, managed by ADS, through a partnership delivery model. By helping to raise supply chain performance in quality, delivery, sustainability and responsiveness our sectors can exceed customer expectations and lead growth internationally.
The Framework includes a structured Digital & Cyber maturity pathway designed to support companies at every stage of their digitalisation journey. Whether you’re just beginning to assess your current digital maturity or exploring tailored solutions to enhance your operations, this initiative provides practical tools, guidance, and resources to help organisations build their digital and cyber readiness, identify key areas for improvement, and connect with the right technologies and partners to drive transformation and resilience across the supply chain.
