How can the traditional stone industry accelerate its digital transformation? Experts recently shared valuable insights during an online industry event.
On January 12, the “Serving Enterprises with Practical Solutions” Supply–Demand Matchmaking Conference (Guangdong Session) and the Guangdong Industrial Cluster Empowerment Initiative were successfully held online. The event was jointly organized by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) and the Industrial Internet Industry Alliance, supported by the Guangdong Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, hosted by the Guangdong Industrial Internet Industry Alliance, and co-organized by CAICT Industrial Internet Innovation Center (Guangdong) Co., Ltd.
During the industrial cluster sharing and discussion session, Chen Siyang, General Manager of Yunfu KETE Machinery Co., Ltd. and President of the Yunfu Stone Industry Association, delivered a keynote presentation titled “Planning and Development Strategy for the Yunfu Stone Industry Chain Collaborative Innovation Platform”, followed by in-depth discussions with industry experts.
Challenges Facing the Traditional Stone Industry
Mr. Chen pointed out that the stone industry is a labor-intensive industry, with relatively outdated operating models across marketing, design, and production processes. The industry faces multiple challenges, including:
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Severe product homogenization and price competition
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Shortage of professional talent
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Lack of industry-wide collaboration systems
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Insufficient stone material databases at the design stage, making true “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” product design difficult
In response, stone enterprises in Yunfu, together with industry organizations and local governments, have actively explored digital transformation paths, forming a distinctive and practical transformation model.
Key Directions for Digital Transformation
Mr. Chen outlined several core directions to promote the digital upgrading of the stone industry:
1. Digitalization of Sales and Management
Based on digital slab technology, enterprises can realize digital inventory management, with real-time recording and analysis of purchasing, sales, and stock data, enabling seamless data flow across production, sales, processing, and delivery.
2. Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment
Starting with cutting, resin filling, and polishing equipment, and extending to digital slabs, layout planning, and intelligent cutting, the industry can establish fully integrated intelligent production lines.
3. Digital Design Tools
By developing and applying digital design tools, designers can significantly improve raw material utilization and design efficiency.
4. Platform-Based Industry Resource Collaboration
Building shared platforms such as cloud stone warehouses, stone trading platforms, designer application platforms, and installation & delivery platforms enables cloud sales, cloud design, cloud factories, and cloud services. This facilitates optimal allocation of industry resources and enhances overall competitiveness.
5. Intelligent Business Decision-Making
Leveraging big data allows for precise process monitoring and in-depth analysis of production and sales data, empowering smarter management decisions.
Urgent Needs of the Yunfu Stone Industry Cluster
At the conference, Mr. Chen highlighted several urgent needs in the digital transformation of the Yunfu stone industry cluster:
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Many small and medium-sized enterprises remain skeptical and lack confidence in adopting cloud platforms—how can their mindset be effectively guided toward digital transformation?
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Digital slab technology is the foundation of industry informatization, yet the lack of supporting information systems limits the application of AI tools—how can industry-wide informatization be rapidly promoted?
Expert Recommendations
Industry experts engaged in active discussions and provided constructive suggestions:
Zhang Dong, Director of the Industrial Internet Innovation Development Center of China Telecom Group’s Government & Enterprise Division and Deputy Secretary-General of the Industrial Internet Industry Alliance, proposed three key recommendations:
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Strongly promote digital slabs by clearly defining application scenarios and templates, precisely matching market demand, and offering high-quality design templates in niche markets to increase the added value of stone products.
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Establish professional sales and operations teams to track customer needs in real time and provide end-to-end online services.
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Develop professional logistics, installation, and after-sales service teams within industrial hubs to ensure reliable maintenance and long-term service support.
Wang Jin, Member of the Guangdong Industrial Internet Expert Committee, suggested:
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Establishing industry-wide data standards to enhance data sharing and transparency, significantly reducing system integration complexity and accelerating collaborative innovation platform development.
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Building a comprehensive software and digital service ecosystem centered on the Yunfu stone industry.
Cai Zhisen, Founder and CEO of Guangdong 3vjia Information Technology Co., Ltd., proposed:
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After establishing a digital slab database, stone processing could adopt a decentralized cloud factory model.
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On the supply side, focus on digital slabs; on the demand side, leverage scenario-based and AI-driven design tools, supported by cloud warehouse planning and IT implementation.
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Encourage greater participation from IT companies and financial institutions to empower the stone industry’s digital transformation.
Looking Ahead
Mr. Chen concluded that Yunfu’s stone industry will drive leapfrog development through market upgrading, consumption upgrading, supply chain upgrading, and value chain upgrading. He also invited enterprises with strong capabilities and transformation experience, as well as financial institutions, to actively participate in the platform construction, promotion, and operation of the Yunfu stone industry, including support through financial leasing and interest-subsidized loans.
Together, these efforts aim to accelerate the digital transformation and high-quality development of the traditional stone industry.
