Framework of Best Practices to Drive the Digital Transition: Towards a 4.0 Paradigm Based on Evidence from Case Studies

Tiago Bastos, Cármen Guimarães and Leonor Teixeira ()
Additional contact information
Tiago Bastos: Departamento de Economia, Gestão, Engenharia Industrial e Turismo (DEGEIT), Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Cármen Guimarães: Escola Superior de Design, Gestão e Tecnologias da Produção de Aveiro-Norte (ESAN), Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Leonor Teixeira: Departamento de Economia, Gestão, Engenharia Industrial e Turismo (DEGEIT), Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

Future Internet, 2025, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-19

Abstract: In a technology-driven world, the concepts of digitalization and Industry 4.0 (I4.0) are an ever more present reality for companies. The benefits which these advancements offer, coupled with the market-driven pressure to reduce response times, have placed businesses in a technological “wave”, where it is imperative to adapt to avoid falling behind. While numerous studies focus on technological developments—such as definitions, capabilities, and potential benefits—few provide a systematic approach to best practices and recommendations for accelerating digital transformation while mitigating adverse impacts. In this study, case studies from 10 companies are analyzed to identify and systematize the best practices implemented in their digital transitions. The findings culminate in a best-practice framework for digital transition (DT), highlighting critical aspects such as understanding a company’s current state, acquiring external knowledge, and addressing the importance of cybersecurity and skilled staff. Concerning originality, this work presents an artifact based on manufacturing industry case studies, emphasizing the practical vision concerning DT.

Keywords: digital transition; best practices; Industry 4.0; digitalization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/17/2/82/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/17/2/82/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jftint:v:17:y:2025:i:2:p:82-:d:1588712

Access Statistics for this article

Future Internet is currently edited by Ms. Grace You

More articles in Future Internet from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().