By Karel Doclo (ERNI Switzerland)
Industrial environments have never been more advanced. Machines communicate in real time. Sensors provide continuous data. AI supports quality control and logistics. Yet many organisations face a different reality on the factory floor. Operators often feel overwhelmed by systems rather than supported by them.
Machines exchange data efficiently, but the connection to the people using them is not always as strong. This is where Industry 5.0 comes in. It does not replace Industry 4.0. It builds on it and shifts the focus. The goal is clear: technology must support people, not the other way around.
From efficiency to human-centric systems
Industry 4.0 focused on efficiency, automation and throughput. Systems aimed to reduce human intervention and standardise processes. Industry 5.0 introduces a broader perspective. According to the European Commission, it focuses on three areas: human-centricity, sustainability and resilience.
For many organisations, human-centricity is the most challenging part. It requires a change in how systems are designed. A human-centric system does more than display data. It delivers the right information at the right moment, in a way that people can understand and use immediately. It supports decisions instead of replacing them.
This gap is still visible in practice and closing it is essential. According to Digital Europe, the current adoption rate of AI in manufacturing in Europe lies at 17%. However, EU’s target by 2035 is at 75%.s
The role of software engineering
The shift to Industry 5.0 is not only about devices. It is about software. Software defines how data flows through a system, how it is processed and how it reaches the user. It connects sensors, machines and people.
A predictive maintenance example shows this clearly:
- In a traditional setup, a system detects an anomaly and creates a ticket
- In a human-centric system, the software translates this into a clear recommendation: what is happening, how urgent it is and what action is required
The sensor does not change. The value comes from the software architecture behind it.
Designing systems around people
To create truly human-centric connected devices, organisations need to rethink system design. Three principles are especially important.
Edge intelligence that supports decisions
Edge computing often focuses on speed and latency. In Industry 5.0, it also improves usability.
Processing data close to the machine allows systems to deliver immediate, contextualised insights. Operators do not need raw data. They need clear guidance.
Software engineers must design edge systems with the user in mind. This changes what data is processed and how results are presented.
Transparency in data usage
Connected devices collect large amounts of data. In some cases, this includes information related to workers, such as movement or behaviour patterns.
Trust plays a key role here. People need to understand what data is collected and how it is used.
This is not only a compliance topic. It directly affects how systems are accepted and used. Transparent design improves both trust and data quality.
Feedback loops that include the user
Many systems optimise machine performance automatically. The human role remains limited.
Human-centric systems go further. They learn from user interaction:
- Which alerts are acted on
- Which are ignored
- How decisions are made in real situations
Software can use this feedback to improve recommendations and make systems more relevant over time.
Building resilient systems
Industry 5.0 also places strong emphasis on resilience. Industrial systems must continue to function even when conditions change. This includes network failures, system errors or unexpected events.
From a software engineering perspective, it means:
- Designing for partial system failure
- Enabling local decision-making when connectivity is lost
- Ensuring safe operation in all scenarios
Resilience builds confidence. Operators trust systems that behave predictably, even under pressure.
The organisational challenge
Technology alone does not create human-centric systems. Organisations must also adapt how they work.
This requires closer collaboration between:
- Software engineers
- UX specialists
- Domain experts
- Operators on the factory floor
In many organisations, these groups rarely work together on system design. As a result, solutions meet technical requirements but miss practical needs.
Studies confirm this gap. Research by Roland Berger shows that fewer than one in three manufacturers have a structured approach to integrating worker feedback into system design.
A more collaborative approach leads to better outcomes. Systems become easier to use, more effective and more widely adopted.
What this means for industrial organisations
Industry 5.0 does not reduce the importance of efficiency. It builds on it.
The real opportunity lies in combining:
- Strong automation
- Intelligent software
- Human expertise
Organisations that succeed in this balance achieve more than performance gains. They create environments where people can make better decisions, respond faster and work with confidence.
From connected devices to smart collaboration
The next generation of industrial systems will not be defined by connectivity alone. They will be defined by how well they support the people using them.
This requires a clear software engineering focus:
- Well-designed system architecture
- Reliable data flows
- Intuitive interfaces
- Continuous improvement through feedback
When these elements come together, connected devices become true partners in daily operations. That is the promise of Industry 5.0: not just smarter machines, but smarter collaboration between people and technology.
