IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/proeco/v260y2023ics0925527323000907.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

When technologies become Industry 4.0 platforms: Defining the role of digital technologies through a boundary-spanning perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Benitez, Guilherme Brittes
  • Ghezzi, Antonio
  • Frank, Alejandro G.

Abstract

The implementation of Industry 4.0 is usually built around core technologies that integrate different complementary hardware and software to coordinate activities within and across the company's borders. These technologies can operate as platforms, becoming the base of technology integration in the digital transformation journey. However, the specialized literature has not yet addressed Industry 4.0 technologies from a system view by considering the types of platforms involved. Rather, most Industry 4.0 technologies are considered singular entities of digital transformation. Thus, we aim to define which and how Industry 4.0 technologies can operate as platforms. We propose four types of platforms that support Industry 4.0 features: (i) Networked Manufacturing Operations platforms; (ii) Vertical Integration platforms; (iii) End-to-End Engineering platforms; (vi) Horizontal Integration platforms. We adopt a Boundary-Spanning (BS) perspective to analyze technologies as Industry 4.0 platforms using four BS activities: information collection and processing, external representation; task coordination; and knowledge transformation. We employ a multiple-case approach by scrutinizing 40 cases and selecting seven in which Industry 4.0 technologies are used as platforms. Although only the internet of things and cloud-based systems are conceived as technology platforms in practice, we show that Industry 4.0 can embrace other technologies as platforms that contribute to building cyber-physical systems. We suggest that some of these technologies can operate either as stand-alone or platforms, depending on how their use is designed in the digital transformation process for Industry 4.0 implementation. We provide a framework explaining platform layering as a value chain for these technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Benitez, Guilherme Brittes & Ghezzi, Antonio & Frank, Alejandro G., 2023. "When technologies become Industry 4.0 platforms: Defining the role of digital technologies through a boundary-spanning perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:proeco:v:260:y:2023:i:c:s0925527323000907
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2023.108858
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925527323000907
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ijpe.2023.108858?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Geoffrey Parker & Marshall Van Alstyne, 2018. "Innovation, Openness, and Platform Control," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 64(7), pages 3015-3032, July.
    2. Müller, Julian Marius & Buliga, Oana & Voigt, Kai-Ingo, 2018. "Fortune favors the prepared: How SMEs approach business model innovations in Industry 4.0," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 2-17.
    3. Knut H. Rolland & Lars Mathiassen & Arun Rai, 2018. "Managing Digital Platforms in User Organizations: The Interactions Between Digital Options and Digital Debt," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(2), pages 419-443, June.
    4. Jean-Charles Rochet & Jean Tirole, 2003. "Platform Competition in Two-Sided Markets," Journal of the European Economic Association, MIT Press, vol. 1(4), pages 990-1029, June.
    5. Meindl, Benjamin & Ayala, Néstor Fabián & Mendonça, Joana & Frank, Alejandro G., 2021. "The four smarts of Industry 4.0: Evolution of ten years of research and future perspectives," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    6. Jens Foerderer, 2020. "Interfirm Exchange and Innovation in Platform Ecosystems: Evidence from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(10), pages 4772-4787, October.
    7. Esther Tippmann & Pamela Sharkey Scott & Andrew Parker, 2017. "Boundary Capabilities in MNCs: Knowledge Transformation for Creative Solution Development," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 455-482, June.
    8. Weking, Jörg & Stöcker, Maria & Kowalkiewicz, Marek & Böhm, Markus & Krcmar, Helmut, 2020. "Leveraging industry 4.0 – A business model pattern framework," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    9. Ayala, Néstor Fabián & Paslauski, Carolline Amaral & Ghezzi, Antonio & Frank, Alejandro Germán, 2017. "Knowledge sharing dynamics in service suppliers' involvement for servitization of manufacturing companies," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 538-553.
    10. Osterrieder, Philipp & Budde, Lukas & Friedli, Thomas, 2020. "The smart factory as a key construct of industry 4.0: A systematic literature review," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    11. de Reuver, Mark & Sørensen, Carsten & Basole, Rahul C., 2018. "The digital platform: a research agenda," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 80669, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    12. Sun, Jing & Yamamoto, Hisashi & Matsui, Masayuki, 2020. "Horizontal integration management: An optimal switching model for parallel production system with multiple periods in smart supply chain environment," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    13. Kahle, Júlia Hofmeister & Marcon, Érico & Ghezzi, Antonio & Frank, Alejandro G., 2020. "Smart Products value creation in SMEs innovation ecosystems," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    14. Dalenogare, Lucas Santos & Benitez, Guilherme Brittes & Ayala, Néstor Fabián & Frank, Alejandro Germán, 2018. "The expected contribution of Industry 4.0 technologies for industrial performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 383-394.
    15. Catherine Tucker, 2019. "Digital Data, Platforms and the Usual [Antitrust] Suspects: Network Effects, Switching Costs, Essential Facility," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 54(4), pages 683-694, June.
    16. Culot, Giovanna & Orzes, Guido & Sartor, Marco & Nassimbeni, Guido, 2020. "The future of manufacturing: A Delphi-based scenario analysis on Industry 4.0," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    17. Rong, Ke & Hu, Guangyu & Lin, Yong & Shi, Yongjiang & Guo, Liang, 2015. "Understanding business ecosystem using a 6C framework in Internet-of-Things-based sectors," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 41-55.
    18. Andreas P. J. Schotter & Ram Mudambi & Yves L. Doz & Ajai Gaur, 2017. "Boundary Spanning in Global Organizations," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 403-421, June.
    19. Eng K. Chew, 2016. "iSIM: An integrated design method for commercializing service innovation," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 457-478, June.
    20. Matheus Becker Costa & Leonardo Moraes Aguiar Lima Santos & Jones Luís Schaefer & Ismael Cristofer Baierle & Elpidio Oscar Benitez Nara, 2019. "Industry 4.0 technologies basic network identification," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 121(2), pages 977-994, November.
    21. Benitez, Guilherme Brittes & Ayala, Néstor Fabián & Frank, Alejandro G., 2020. "Industry 4.0 innovation ecosystems: An evolutionary perspective on value cocreation," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    22. Gawer, Annabelle, 2014. "Bridging differing perspectives on technological platforms: Toward an integrative framework," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(7), pages 1239-1249.
    23. Susan Gasson, 2006. "A genealogical study of boundary-spanning IS design," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 26-41, February.
    24. Geoffrey G. Parker & Marshall W. Van Alstyne, 2005. "Two-Sided Network Effects: A Theory of Information Product Design," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 51(10), pages 1494-1504, October.
    25. Marcelo Cano-Kollmann & John Cantwell & Thomas J Hannigan & Ram Mudambi & Jaeyong Song, 2016. "Knowledge connectivity: An agenda for innovation research in international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 47(3), pages 255-262, April.
    26. Paolo Aversa & Marco Formentini & Daniela Iubatti & Gianni Lorenzoni, 2021. "Digital Machines, Space, and Time: Towards a Behavioral Perspective of Flexible Manufacturing," Post-Print hal-03562170, HAL.
    27. Frank, Alejandro Germán & Dalenogare, Lucas Santos & Ayala, Néstor Fabián, 2019. "Industry 4.0 technologies: Implementation patterns in manufacturing companies," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 15-26.
    28. Raphael Amit & Christoph Zott, 2001. "Value creation in E‐business," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(6‐7), pages 493-520, June.
    29. Shree, Deep & Kumar Singh, Rajesh & Paul, Justin & Hao, Andy & Xu, Shichun, 2021. "Digital platforms for business-to-business markets: A systematic review and future research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 354-365.
    30. Park, Chan-Kook & Kim, Hyun-Jae & Kim, Yang-Soo, 2014. "A study of factors enhancing smart grid consumer engagement," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 211-218.
    31. Lucas Santos Dalenogare & Marie-Anne Le Dain & Néstor Fabián Ayala & Alejandro Germán Frank, 2019. "The contribution of Smart Glasses for PSS," Post-Print hal-02337473, HAL.
    32. Dalenogare, Lucas Santos & Le Dain, Marie-Anne & Benitez, Guilherme B. & Ayala, Néstor F. & Frank, Alejandro G., 2022. "Multichannel digital service delivery and service ecosystems: The role of data integration within Smart Product-Service Systems," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    33. Li, Ming & Li, Zhi & Huang, Xidian & Qu, Ting, 2021. "Blockchain-based digital twin sharing platform for reconfigurable socialized manufacturing resource integration," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    34. Weller, Christian & Kleer, Robin & Piller, Frank T., 2015. "Economic implications of 3D printing: Market structure models in light of additive manufacturing revisited," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 43-56.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Meena, Abhilasha & Dhir, Sanjay & Sushil, Sushil, 2024. "Coopetition, strategy, and business performance in the era of digital transformation using a multi-method approach: Some research implications for strategy and operations management," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    2. Ghafoori, Arman & Gupta, Manjul & Merhi, Mohammad I. & Gupta, Samrat & Shore, Adam P., 2024. "Toward the role of organizational culture in data-driven digital transformation," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    3. Stornelli, Aldo & Simms, Christopher & Reim, Wiebke & Ozcan, Sercan, 2024. "Exploring the dynamic capabilities of technology provider ecosystems: A study of smart manufacturing projects," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Culot, Giovanna & Orzes, Guido & Sartor, Marco & Nassimbeni, Guido, 2020. "The future of manufacturing: A Delphi-based scenario analysis on Industry 4.0," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    2. Marcon, Érico & Le Dain, Marie-Anne & Frank, Alejandro G., 2022. "Designing business models for Industry 4.0 technologies provision: Changes in business dimensions through digital transformation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    3. Dalenogare, Lucas Santos & Le Dain, Marie-Anne & Benitez, Guilherme B. & Ayala, Néstor F. & Frank, Alejandro G., 2022. "Multichannel digital service delivery and service ecosystems: The role of data integration within Smart Product-Service Systems," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    4. Frank, Alejandro G. & Mendes, Glauco H.S. & Ayala, Néstor F. & Ghezzi, Antonio, 2019. "Servitization and Industry 4.0 convergence in the digital transformation of product firms: A business model innovation perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 341-351.
    5. Meindl, Benjamin & Ayala, Néstor Fabián & Mendonça, Joana & Frank, Alejandro G., 2021. "The four smarts of Industry 4.0: Evolution of ten years of research and future perspectives," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    6. Delke, Vincent & Schiele, Holger & Buchholz, Wolfgang & Kelly, Stephen, 2023. "Implementing Industry 4.0 technologies: Future roles in purchasing and supply management," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    7. Silva, Lucas Emmanuel Nascimento & Gomes, Leonardo Augusto de Vasconcelos & Faria, Aline Mariane de & Borini, Felipe Mendes, 2024. "Innovation processes in ecosystem settings: An integrative framework and future directions," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    8. Ricci, Riccardo & Battaglia, Daniele & Neirotti, Paolo, 2021. "External knowledge search, opportunity recognition and industry 4.0 adoption in SMEs," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    9. Mucha, Tomasz & Seppälä, Timo, 2020. "Artificial Intelligence Platforms – A New Research Agenda for Digital Platform Economy," ETLA Working Papers 76, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    10. Kahle, Júlia Hofmeister & Marcon, Érico & Ghezzi, Antonio & Frank, Alejandro G., 2020. "Smart Products value creation in SMEs innovation ecosystems," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    11. Martin Poniatowski & Hedda Lüttenberg & Daniel Beverungen & Dennis Kundisch, 2022. "Three layers of abstraction: a conceptual framework for theorizing digital multi-sided platforms," Information Systems and e-Business Management, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 257-283, June.
    12. Benitez, Guilherme Brittes & Ayala, Néstor Fabián & Frank, Alejandro G., 2020. "Industry 4.0 innovation ecosystems: An evolutionary perspective on value cocreation," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    13. Cifone, Fabiana Dafne & Hoberg, Kai & Holweg, Matthias & Staudacher, Alberto Portioli, 2021. "‘Lean 4.0’: How can digital technologies support lean practices?," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    14. Stornelli, Aldo & Simms, Christopher & Reim, Wiebke & Ozcan, Sercan, 2024. "Exploring the dynamic capabilities of technology provider ecosystems: A study of smart manufacturing projects," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    15. Bootz, Jean-Philippe & Michel, Sophie & Pallud, Jessie & Monti, Régine, 2022. "Possible changes of Industry 4.0 in 2030 in the face of uberization: Results of a participatory and systemic foresight study," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    16. Veile, Johannes W. & Schmidt, Marie-Christin & Voigt, Kai-Ingo, 2022. "Toward a new era of cooperation: How industrial digital platforms transform business models in Industry 4.0," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 387-405.
    17. Kazantsev, Nikolai & Petrovskyi, Oleksii & Müller, Julian M., 2023. "From supply chains towards manufacturing ecosystems: A system dynamics model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    18. Matzner, Martin & Pauli, Tobias & Marx, Emanuel & Anke, Jürgen & Poeppelbuss, Jens & Fielt, Erwin & Gregor, Shirley & Sun, Ruonan & Hydle, Katja Maria & Aas, Tor Helge & Aanestad, Margunn & Gordijn, J, 2021. "Transitioning to Platform-based Services and Business Models in a B2B Environment," SMR - Journal of Service Management Research, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 5(3), pages 143-162.
    19. Cenamor, Javier, 2021. "Complementor competitive advantage: A framework for strategic decisions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 335-343.
    20. Tao, Zhibin & Chao, Jiaxiao, 2024. "Unlocking new opportunities in the industry 4.0 era, exploring the critical impact of digital technology on sustainable performance and the mediating role of GSCM practices," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:proeco:v:260:y:2023:i:c:s0925527323000907. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ijpe .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.