Digital growth for manufacturers
Apps & Digitisation Ideas for Manufacturers
A guide for leaders seeking opportunities to leverage digital for sustainable growth.


A practical guide to digital growth for manufacturers
As we head into 2026, digital expectations have shifted. UK consumers now demand convenience, personalisation and high-quality digital experiences alongside physical products. For manufacturers, this creates a critical question: how can digital be used not just to support products, but to drive sustainable growth?
Apps & Digitisation Ideas for Manufacturers is a practical guide for leaders exploring how apps and digital platforms can open new markets, strengthen customer relationships and unlock new revenue opportunities.

From digitisation to strategic advantage
Many manufacturers invest in apps, cloud platforms and AI, but often in isolated, tactical ways. This guide challenges that approach. Instead of focusing solely on features or technology, it explores proven digital strategies that successful brands use to attract customers, build loyalty, and create long-term value.
Inside, you’ll find real world examples and frameworks covering:
- Apps as customer acquisition tools and “Trojan Horses” for growth.
- Digital products that complement, or deliberately replace, physical ones.
- Companion apps that increase product value without damaging trust.
- Marketplaces, recommerce and rental models that support circular economy goals.
- Digital tools that help consumers adopt more sustainable habits.
Each concept is grounded in practical insight, showing how digital products can deliver real utility while supporting commercial objectives.



Inspiration, real world examples and clear next steps
This guide isn’t a technical manual; it’s a source of strategic inspiration.
Apps & Digitisation Ideas for Manufacturers brings together patterns, tactics and design principles from leading brands and fast-growing digital platforms, helping you see what’s possible and where to focus next.
Whether you’re launching your first app, rethinking an underperforming digital product, or exploring new business models, this resource is designed to spark ideas and inform better decisions.
Download the guide to explore how digital platforms and apps can become powerful engines of growth for your manufacturing business.

Tobin Harris, Managing Director
Pocketworks





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About Us
We are UK app developers based in Leeds.
Founded in 2012, Pocketworks has grown to 19 people across five European countries. Our clients hire us as a long-term partner, assisting them with their mobile strategy, market research, user research, design, mobile development, cloud development, quality assurance and mobile growth hacking.











