Perceptions of Industry 4.0 in Visegrad Firms

Abstract

Abstract The definition and understanding of the Industry 4.0 concept vary widely in the literature and among practitioners. The objective of our research was to analyse the perceptions of Industry 4.0 in the Visegrad companies and the explanations for the differences thereof; and second, to compare perceptions of Industry 4.0 between Visegrad firms and experts. Our article relies on a combined methodology: analysis of literature and of information gained from questionnaire-based semi-structured interviews, conducted with randomly selected company representatives, academic and industry experts, and representatives of government agencies. Our results show that most Visegrad firms identify Industry 4.0 only with a limited set of selected new technologies, while experts usually have a more complex understanding of it, identifying it with a new business model. It would be important to have a clearly defined concept in order to elaborate related nationwide strategies and related economic and other policy tools.