Press release content from Business Wire. The AP news staff was not involved in its creation. Pandemic Boosts Urgency of Digital Transformation for German Manufacturers Facing Competitive Pressures February 11, 2021 GMT FRANKFURT, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 11, 2021-- The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the supply chains of German manufacturers, increasing pressure to virtualize production and bring it closer to customers, according to a new report published today by Information Services Group ( ISG ) (Nasdaq: III ), a leading global technology research and advisory firm. ADVERTISEMENT The 2020 ISG Provider Lens ™ Manufacturing Industry Services report for Germany said the country’s manufacturing industry, already undergoing digital transformation prior to the pandemic, has begun to compete on new dimensions, including the ability to detect and respond to rapidly changing customer demands and to provide products as a service. The events of the past year accelerated the trend toward digitization.