Exploring Research Issues and Potential Future Directions in Industry 4.0 Adoption in SMEs: A Comprehensive Analysis and Integration

Abstract

This study used a bibliometric approach and thematic analysis to explore the evolution of research in Industry 4.0, analysing 421 articles published between 2010 and 2022. This study aimed to investigate the annual scientific production, most-cited articles, keyword and keyword co-occurrence analysis, theme breakthroughs and future thematic directions. The authors identified four potential themes for future research: artificial intelligence (AI)-powered sustainable smart manufacturing ecosystem, small- and medium-sized enterprises and Industry 4.0: Digital innovation impact, internet of things (IoT)-enabled digital servitization for smart factories and ecosystems and dynamic capabilities in digital transformation. This study provides practical and theoretical guidance for I4.0 implementation, identifying potential themes for future work that offer practical implications for policymakers and industry practitioners, while also offering theoretical implications for developing new theories and frameworks.