As a new year dawns, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), 3D scanning, and 3D printing are driving manufacturing change. These technologies have the potential to create new efficiencies when integrated into traditional workflows. While manufacturing and innovation teams across industries get underway with their Q1 projects, it’s worth considering how emerging trends like these will play out across the year. From AI in photogrammetry to 3D technology in healthcare, these trends could play a critical role in how businesses move the needle on both growing and opening up new potential markets.

An AI-powered Workflow Revolution

Manufacturers have begun the adoption of AI and pushing the boundaries of what AI systems can do. The National Association of Manufacturers reported that the top reasons companies invest in AI are to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency (72%), improve control (41%), and improve quality (22%). Looking ahead, we’re seeing the next step in the evolution of AI in 3D scanning, paired together with photogrammetry, a technique for creating 3D models from photographs with incredible realism. Using AI, photogrammetry can also reconstruct objects, areas, and people with unprecedented ease. AI photogrammetry has the potential to open 3D scanning to an entirely new user base, as it’s compatible with any smartphone or DSLR camera, and advance work time for 3D scanning professionals through digitization before picking up a 3D scanner for other tasks.

There are many scenarios where utilizing this technology alongside traditional 3D scanning would help get the best out of both. For example, manufacturers can capture an object with a 3D scanner, and then reconstruct the entire surrounding scene with AI photogrammetry. In the future, these algorithms will get better and faster. Already, they can handle shiny, semi-transparent, and featureless surfaces – areas where traditional photogrammetry struggles. AI-powered reconstructions will only get more accurate. I anticipate they will liberalize 3D scanning and open the technology to new markets.

3D scanning is advancing applications like inspection and reverse engineering for industrial professionals. There has already been a technological shift. Through further collaboration, research, and innovation, businesses will now be able to identify opportunities and reshape the way they approach a project, in order to perfect designs and minimize costs.

3D Tech Innovation in Healthcare

Healthcare is a fast-growing market where the accessibility of 3D scanning can bring a lot of benefits in the near future. Many real-life use cases have seen the technology improve healthcare products like medical corsets, facial implants, and prosthetics, making them more personalized or customizable, while improving fit. The only barrier to wider adoption is pricing. As cheaper devices and technologies like AI photogrammetry enter the market, medical 3D scanning applications should grow further, allowing for patient-specific solutions based on 3D scans that bring humanitarian benefits and opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Better Data Processing for Reliable Outputs

Data quality plays a crucial role, not only in delivering realistic-looking models, but ensuring the durability of any scanned objects that may get printed for end-use products. For large and complex scans, data processing can be time-consuming and require specialized tooling, but manufacturers don’t have to be limited if they invest in the right tech stack.

3D scanning users are continually looking for higher quality results, but this requires the collection of a tremendous amount of data. As software needs time to digest such data, big projects can take hours to process. AI helps users handle captured 3D scans, by filtering out noise to deliver a qualitative result. Advances in the technology mean this workflow can also be achieved faster while using less storage – this is essential for cloud-based processing.

Driving Growth Through Education

Thinking about how to adapt to a transforming world with emerging technologies, it takes training and skill to do so with confidence, and get the best results possible. Expanding the skills of young learners - both Gen Z and Millennials, with hands-on experience invites them to feel they have more agency to make positive changes in the workplace.

The photogrammetry trend will create significant opportunities, not just for SMEs, but for schools, colleges, and universities. Easier access to AI-powered photogrammetry will allow teachers to educate students on the potential of digital twins, additive manufacturing, and much more. This means budding engineers getting hands-on with the technology at a very early age. It may start with playful projects (like 3D scanning and printing models of each other), but it will also provide them with valuable skills, which can one day be utilized in the workforce.

The industry has already seen a series of developments in emerging technology in 2024. Looking ahead to this year, manufacturers have exciting opportunities to step up their growth prospects. 2025 will be an impactful year in the industry as new trends and innovations unlock.