Digital advantage framework for growth and competitiveness in small and medium enterprises

Abstract

Many aspects of daily life have dramatically changed in recent years with the adoption of new technologies, which is reflected in the business world in what is referred to as the fourth industrial revolution (or Industry 4.0). However, not all companies are progressing at the same rate. Larger companies generally possess greater capability in terms of skills and investment, while many smaller organisations lack of skilled manpower, high investments and struggle to handle organisational changes. Seventy-three companies have been surveyed to identify and examine the level of awareness of digitalisation amongst Irish manufacturing SMEs and empirically assess the factors that influence the intention of such companies to adopt higher levels of digitalisation.