How had industrial growth altered the nature of warfare as the nations of Europe approached the fateful year 1914?

As European nations industrialized, especially Britain, Belgium, The Netherlands, France, and Germany (most of Eastern Europe, and Mediterranean Europe was still agrarian by the start of the first world war), they increased their capacity to produce miliary goods such as firearms, bombs, and all types of weaponry.

Industrialization also led to the development of organizational techniques and strategies, that were first applied in factories, and later on in the military.

These factors meant a higher strenght of military force: weapons now were more lethal, armies were more numerous, professional, and coordinated, and technology was better. As a result, the first world war was deadlier that most of the wars in the past.