Lenovo’s manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico, has earned a place among the World Economic Forum’s newly added 12 Global Lighthouse Network sites. This brings the total to 201 manufacturers recognized worldwide for their pioneering adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies. The Monterrey plant is the second Lenovo facility to receive this distinction — following the company’s Hefei, China site, which was honored in January 2023.

The Global Lighthouse Network is a select community of production sites and value chains that demonstrate global leadership in leveraging advanced technologies. These “Lighthouses” exemplify how 4IR innovations can transform manufacturing and operations, generating significant financial, operational, and sustainability improvements across their business ecosystems.

Established in 2008, Lenovo’s Monterrey site is among its most advanced smart manufacturing plants. It also houses an integrated development lab that fosters close collaboration between engineering and production teams. This setup ensures that Lenovo’s latest innovations are efficiently brought from design to market, accelerating product delivery and enabling customers to access cutting-edge technology faster.

According to the World Economic Forum, Lenovo’s Monterrey site stood out for its comprehensive use of digital transformation technologies. As Lenovo’s largest North American operation, it coordinates with 2,000 global suppliers and manages over 52,000 SKUs across 80 markets. Through the deployment of more than 60 4IR solutions—over half incorporating AI and generative AI—the site has achieved remarkable outcomes: an 85% reduction in lead time, a 42% drop in logistics costs, a 56% decrease in quality-related losses, and a 30% cut in carbon emissions, all while improving productivity by 58%. The facility now serves as a global benchmark for Lenovo’s digital manufacturing excellence.

Lenovo’s vision of delivering “Smarter AI for all” extends beyond its products to its internal operations, where artificial intelligence plays a pivotal role in boosting efficiency, resilience, and sustainability across its global supply chain. The Monterrey facility has become a hub for AI-driven R&D and next-generation manufacturing, earning three patents in intelligent manufacturing technologies.

Key AI-enabled innovations at the site include:

Lenovo operates more than 30 manufacturing facilities across 11 countries spanning Asia-Pacific, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. Its supply chain is consistently ranked among the best worldwide—placing eighth on Gartner’s list of the Top 25 Global Supply Chains and first in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Global Lighthouse Network, an initiative by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with McKinsey & Company and guided by an advisory board of global industry leaders, recognizes sites selected by an independent panel for their exemplary innovation and technology integration shaping the future of manufacturing.

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Greg Pardo recognized he was ready for a change when he came across a job opening for a Verizon Innovative Learning Lab STEAM Specialist in New Brunswick, New Jersey. After spending 23 years in the same role within a local school system — as a computer science teacher, STEM interventionist, and in other positions — he found himself unable to advance into administration.

"I was always striving to move up, but never quite getting there," Pardo reflects. "It was frustrating."

In the three years since joining McKinley Community School as a STEAM Specialist, Pardo has advanced to the position of Supervisor of Instructional Technology for the New Brunswick School System. His swift career progression is attributed to his decades of experience in tech education, strong interpersonal skills, and the professional development he received through Verizon Innovative Learning.

Though he didn’t grow up in a tech-savvy environment, Pardo always had a passion for science and engineering. "We had one TV in our house," he recalls, smiling. "The channel knob broke, and my dad fixed it with a vise grip. We didn’t have a remote — I was the remote."

However, his grandfather was interested in new technology and bought a personal computer when they were still a novelty. Pardo enjoyed programming the computer and playing video games, sparking a lifelong fascination with how machines, robots, and computers function.

Today’s children grow up in a world far different from Pardo’s youth, with smartphones replacing corded phones and cassette players. Many students have instant access to information and can create impressive digital artwork with just a few taps. Traditional teacher-centered classrooms no longer resonate with this generation of self-directed learners.

"They want to create their own knowledge. They want to create their own information. They want to create their own learning," says Pardo.

As a STEM educator, Pardo began experimenting with student-led classrooms, and his participation in Verizon Innovative Learning’s professional development sessions greatly enhanced his abilities.

"My work with Verizon Innovative Learning boosted my confidence as an administrator, equipping me with the tools to truly understand how to integrate technology in the classroom," says Pardo.

In Verizon’s program, students engage in lessons that build problem-solving skills. "Students collaborate, and the teacher guides them from the side," explains Pardo. "This approach encourages kids to communicate, think creatively, and solve problems. That interaction unfolds more naturally when lessons are project-based or problem-based."

Technology discussions frequently extend to real-world scenarios. An architecture project might spark interest in the engineering of bridge structures, while a virtual reality tour of the Egyptian pyramids offers students — many of whom rarely leave New Brunswick — the opportunity to explore the world. Programming a robot to move could even lead to questions about careers in lunar rover development.

Now, as the District Supervisor of Instructional Technology, Pardo shares his expertise in student-centered learning with educators across the district, often advocating for changes in teaching approaches.

"Many of our teachers are still teaching the way they were taught," says Pardo, referring to the traditional "chalk and talk" method that has dominated classrooms for centuries. "It’s hard for them to let go of that. My job is to encourage them to ease up a bit." This shift fosters greater student engagement and involvement.

Anthony Mwangi, Robotics teacher at New Brunswick Middle School and Verizon Innovative Learning Lab Mentor, says Pardo has revolutionized his teaching. "Mr. Pardo encourages teachers not to give students the answers but to help them discover solutions on their own," says Mwangi.

For Pardo, enhancing students' science and engineering education isn't solely about increasing technology use in the classroom. Educators need to leverage the most effective tools to support students’ learning and help them reach their full potential.

Verizon Innovative Learning is an integral part of the company’s responsible business strategy, aiming to provide digital skills training to 10 million youth by 2030. Teachers can access free lessons, professional development, and immersive learning experiences to incorporate innovative learning methods in the classroom by visiting Verizon Innovative Learning HQ.

"Working with Verizon Innovative Learning gave me the confidence to understand how to integrate technology in the classroom effectively," says Pardo, now District Supervisor of Instructional Technology for New Brunswick School System.

In the coming decades, humanity will accomplish feats that once seemed like magic to previous generations. The rapid pace of innovation, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud technologies, is allowing us to tackle challenges that were once thought insurmountable. Some experts are even referring to this period as the "intelligent age."

As our capabilities expand, businesses are strategically integrating AI and other technologies. SAP is at the forefront, offering smarter business transformation services by combining cutting-edge tools with human expertise to help organizations harness the full potential of these advancements.

Achieve tangible results and unlock your full potential with AI-powered solutions embedded throughout your business.

In this new era, the convergence of cloud technologies, AI, and human intelligence is leading to significant breakthroughs in areas such as demand forecasting, supply chain resilience, and process automation. This shift allows businesses to focus more on high-value tasks and real-time collaboration, enhancing efficiency and fostering innovation.

However, while the opportunities are vast, success is not guaranteed. The organizations that thrive in this new age will be those that can digitally transform their operations in more intelligent ways to ensure long-term success. For instance, fully utilizing business AI often begins with transitioning to a cloud ERP like SAP S/4HANA Cloud.

Winning in the intelligent age requires a fresh and more advanced approach to business transformation, with high stakes.

Blending Human Expertise with Technology
Although the potential of AI-driven cloud systems is enormous, many businesses still struggle to fully capitalize on them. Digital transformations often fail to meet expectations due to challenges like lack of technical expertise, low employee engagement, insufficient management support, poor cross-functional collaboration, and lack of accountability. Sustaining the impact of transformation also requires a shift in mindset and behaviors.

The most difficult part of transformation isn’t always knowing what needs to be done, but understanding how to do it effectively. To address these issues, SAP builds on a proven approach by combining advanced tools with human judgment to elevate the process.

Central to this strategy is RISE with SAP, a transformative initiative designed to help businesses undergo continuous transformation. So far, 7,000 companies—representing 32% of the global economy—have embraced RISE with SAP, benefiting from lower operating costs and reduced inventory levels.

A key element of this approach is the involvement of enterprise architects—transformation experts who guide businesses through the complexities of digital transformation. These experts ensure that businesses maximize the value of SAP tools and services.

Enterprise architects not only assist with the RISE with SAP methodology, but also coordinate all aspects of transformation, guiding customers to the modular cloud suite. This streamlined process makes enterprise architects trusted advisors, helping clients transform holistically across processes, data, systems, and people, ensuring long-term success.

SAP has seen strong internal support for this approach, with experienced professionals eager to take on these roles. Our recruitment and tailored training programs are underway, with hundreds of individuals currently undergoing training. We’re also refining our operational and commercial models to simplify customer engagement, and early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

Shaping the Future of Business Transformation
Our early successes with customers highlight the power of SAP’s intelligent transformation approach. By combining human expertise with advanced AI and cloud technologies, SAP is setting a new standard for what business transformation can achieve. As we look ahead, this integrated approach will continue to help businesses unlock new value and drive sustainable success.

At SAP, our vision is to reshape the way businesses transform, setting the benchmark for intelligent, integrated business transformations that deliver measurable results. For those organizations that embrace this vision, the possibilities in this new age are limitless.