Online ISSN 2286-0266
Print ISSN 1223-0685
© 2024 Œconomica by ASE & SOREC
 
Gabriela Ioana ENACHE
Academia de Studii Economice din Bucureşti
This study aims to document the advancement of digital transformation in the manufacturing of goods, specifically highlighting the emergence of Industry 4.0, also known as smart or intelligent manufacturing. The following is a succinct overview of the primary digital technologies that are transforming the manufacturing industry: the Industrial Internet of Things, which is a system of interconnected devices that generate data; a novel cohort of mobile, adaptable, and AI-driven robots; and sophisticated mechanisms for merging physical and virtual reality, such as digital twins. This paper posits that Industry 4.0 is predicated on the effective utilization of data and sophisticated algorithms across the entire production cycle. It further illustrates how the associated processes manifest in the organizational and operational structures of companies, contributing to both vertical and horizontal process integration. The process of “datafication” applied to the product life-cycle is a contributing factor to the emergence of novel business models that are centred on personalization and “servitisation”. The discussion now shifts to the concept of “platformisation”, wherein we examine the emerging function of industrial platforms in facilitating interactions among supply chains/networks, as well as the increasingly significant presence of e-commerce platforms in the realm of distribution. The present study culminates by highlighting the essential parallels between the mechanisms and consequences of digital transformation in the manufacturing and service industries, as exemplified by the digital transformation of the banking sector.

ŒCONOMICA no. 1/2023
Keywords: industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, servitisation, platformisation, blockchain
JEL: O31, O32, O33
The Effects of Emerging Technologies on the Process of Production