The technological transformation has slowly and steadily paved its way into the Insurance sector and has started to disrupt it gradually. I have mentioned continuously some of the most astonishing technological innovations that involve AI and machine learning and other latest innovations. But, when we talk about InsurTech, then it is one of those sectors which got a bit delayed to see the light of technical advancement. Nevertheless, Insurtech is still witnessing an enormous number of innovations some of which are already in use while some of them are underway. Innovation in insurance is happening, and the next decade will see a transformation in how the entire industry operates.

Here are some of the most significant insurance innovations in InsurTech:

1. Drones

Drones are a quite popular unmanned aerial vehicle in the aviation industry. It is equipped with many technological benefits that caught the eye of Insurance companies about five years ago. InsurTech companies started experimenting with Drones and found its application in claim adjustment, and large-scale surveying because of its small size and effortless manoeuvring.

Reasons why it is helpful for insurance companies:

• Roof damage inspections: Drones are useful for rooftop damage inspection which is touted to be one of the most dangerous and difficult inspections. In cases of fire accident or crazily high rooftops, the difficulty level is even more. Rather than sending an army of men to inspect the notoriously dangerous roofs, an adjuster can use a drone equipped camera and take the pictures of the entire rooftop without actually visiting the location physically.

• Large spaces: Drones can also be used for inspecting extensively large areas like warehouses and farmlands.

• Integration with other technologies: The images that are taken by drones can be integrated with AI-based applications and other technologies to assess the damage and repair costs.

2. Smart Homes

Insurance companies have understood the importance of technological tools that not only safeguard the customers but also reduce the total number of claims. This thought has given rise to several partnerships between insurance companies and smart home technology companies. For example, Insurance firm Allstate and farmers have developed applications for Amazon echo that helps to analyse the insurance coverage.

A well-connected home is a win-win for both the consumer as well as the insurers. Digital sensors around the house provide the resident with real-time alerts. So, damage can be minimised and sometimes eliminated resulting in insurers paying lower costs and customers having lesser premiums. Also, the smart homes allow greater data collection points that can be used to create the consumer profile based on his habits leading to an accurate underwriting and affordable coverage.

3. Quantum Computing

While AI has a significant influence on the Insurance industry it is still restricted by barriers posed by binary computing. Quantum computing is the answer to those challenges, and it is changing the entire dynamics on how insurance companies carry out complex calculations. Insurtech companies are creating, and testing solutions around this approach and its effects will soon be visible.

4. Smart Contracts

A smart contract is an electronic document that is capable of executing itself based on a set of agreed pre-defined conditions and clauses. Non-adherence to any of the requirements results in penalties as in a traditional legal document. It is an intelligent way to create and process policies online with strangers without the involvement of a third party. Japanese insurance company Tokio Marine & Fire Insurance Nichido together with NTT data has already started to test blockchain technology for defining policies for sea-based business exchanges.

5. Telematics Insurance

Telematic insurance car products are similar to black boxes. A telematics device equipped with GPS, SIM, motion sensors and an analytic software is installed in a car to determine the driving patterns of the driver. The telematics box collects and processes all this data and send this to the insurance companies. With the help of this data, the insurance companies create tailored insurance plans for their insurants. This service prevents companies from using the “one size fit all” approach and help to create a more sophisticated and specific insurance plan.

The insurance sector is on its way of digital transformation and customers are also expecting the same from their insurance providers. IoT, wearables are some of the other innovations that are in the nascent stages of development, but soon we can expect them to become a major part of InsurTech innovations.

Smart Manufacturing Dashboards: A Real-Time Guide for Data-Driven Ops

By : Divyanjali Gupta

Published on Jul 31, 2025

Data Science Manufacturing Analytics Smart Manufacturing

Smart Manufacturing starts with real-time visibility.

Manufacturing companies today generate data by the second through sensors, machines, ERP systems, and MES platforms. But without real-time insights, even the most advanced production lines are essentially flying blind.

Manufacturers are implementing real-time dashboards that serve as control towers for their daily operations, enabling them to shift from reactive to proactive decision-making. These tools are essential to the evolution of Smart Manufacturing, where connected systems, automation, and intelligent analytics come together to drive measurable impact.

Data is available, but what’s missing is timely action.

For many plant leaders and COOs, one challenge persists: operational data is dispersed throughout systems, delayed, or hidden in spreadsheets. And this delay turns into a liability.

Real-time dashboards help uncover critical answers:

What caused downtime during last night’s shift?
Was there a delay in maintenance response?
Did a specific inventory threshold trigger a quality issue?

By converting raw inputs into real-time manufacturing analytics, dashboards make operational intelligence accessible to operators, supervisors, and leadership alike, enabling teams to anticipate problems rather than react to them.

1. Why Static Reports Fall Short

Reports often arrive late—after downtime, delays, or defects have occurred.
Disconnected data across ERP, MES, and sensors limits cross-functional insights.
Static formats lack embedded logic for proactive decision support.

2. What Real-Time Dashboards Enable

Line performance and downtime trends
Track OEE in real time and identify underperforming lines.

Predictive maintenance alerts
Utilize historical and sensor data to identify potential part failures in advance.

Inventory heat maps & reorder thresholds
Anticipate stockouts or overstocks based on dynamic reorder points.

Quality metrics linked to operator actions
Isolate shifts or procedures correlated with spikes in defects or rework.

These insights allow production teams to drive day-to-day operations in line with Smart Manufacturing principles.

3. Dashboards That Drive Action

Role-based dashboards
Dashboards can be configured for machine operators, shift supervisors, and plant managers, each with a tailored view of KPIs.

Embedded alerts and nudges
Real-time prompts, like “Line 4 below efficiency threshold for 15+ minutes,” reduce response times and minimize disruptions.

Cross-functional drill-downs
Teams can identify root causes more quickly because users can move from plant-wide overviews to detailed machine-level data in seconds.

4. What Powers These Dashboards

Data lakehouse integration
Unified access to ERP, MES, IoT sensor, and QA systems—ensuring reliable and timely manufacturing analytics.

ETL pipelines
Real-time data ingestion from high-frequency sources with minimal latency.

Visualization tools
Custom builds using Power BI, or customized solutions designed for frontline usability and operational impact.

Smart Manufacturing in Action: Reducing Market Response Time from 48 Hours to 30 Minutes

Mantra Labs partnered with a North American die-casting manufacturer to unify its operational data into a real-time dashboard. Fragmented data, manual reporting, delayed pricing decisions, and inconsistent data quality hindered operational efficiency and strategic decision-making.

Tech Enablement:

Centralized Data Hub with real-time access to critical business insights.
Automated report generation with data ingestion and processing.
Accurate price modeling with real-time visibility into metal price trends, cost impacts, and customer-specific pricing scenarios.
Proactive market analysis with intuitive Power BI dashboards and reports.

Business Outcomes:

Faster response to machine alerts
Quality incidents traced to specific operator workflows
4X faster access to insights led to improved inventory optimization.

As this case shows, real-time dashboards are not just operational tools—they’re strategic enablers.

(Learn More: Powering the Future of Metal Manufacturing with Data Engineering)

Key Takeaways: Smart Manufacturing Dashboards at a Glance

Aspect	What You Should Know
1. Why Static Reports Fall Short	Delayed insights after issues occur Disconnected systems (ERP, MES, sensors) No real-time alerts or embedded decision logic
2. What Real-Time Dashboards Enable	Track OEE and downtime in real-time Predictive maintenance using sensor data Dynamic inventory heat maps Quality linked to operators
3. Dashboards That Drive Action	Role-based views (operator to CEO) Embedded alerts like “Line 4 down for 15+ mins” Drilldowns from plant-level to machine-level
4. What Powers These Dashboards	Unified Data Lakehouse (ERP + IoT + MES) Real-time ETL pipelines Power BI or custom dashboards built for frontline usability

Conclusion

Smart Manufacturing dashboards aren’t just analytics tools—they’re productivity engines. Dashboards that deliver real-time insight empower frontline teams to make faster, better decisions—whether it’s adjusting production schedules, triggering preventive maintenance, or responding to inventory fluctuations.

Explore how Mantra Labs can help you unlock operations intelligence that’s actually usable.

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