We’ve all been there. At some point we stopped visiting the CD shop to buy music but instead chose to stream it online through our smartphones. We gave up the thought of going to the bookstore (because the “feel” of paper is overrated) but downloaded e-books instead into our tablets.
These are examples of dematerialisation, and it doesn’t affect single companies at a time, but rather entire industries at one go. This digital force changes products or processes from physical to virtual, unbundling demand with digital delivery and enabling consumers to receive products or services anywhere, anytime.
Dematerialisation can potentially redefine entire employment landscapes for workers. 3‑D printing, e-working and paperless solutions can reduce the flow of goods, realign supply chains and shift demand from one market to another. Are there any specific segments within the Labour Movement that could be prone to its effect? Can this phenomena be turned into an advantage?
