{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,25]],"date-time":"2026-03-25T02:16:24Z","timestamp":1774404984579,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":58,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,19]],"date-time":"2025-12-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1766102400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Systems"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In today\u2019s rapidly evolving business environment, digitalization has emerged not only as a technological trend but also as a strategic imperative. This paper develops a conceptual framework that examines how Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies and tools drive strategic innovation and enable the transformation of business models. Based on a systematic literature review, the framework identifies a set of organizational and contextual preconditions (strategic vision, organizational culture, digital skills, infrastructure, financial resources, and regulatory conditions) that can act as either enablers or barriers to innovation. The analysis reveals that these preconditions give rise to two contrasting innovation cycles: a virtuous cycle, where favourable conditions amplify the adoption of digital technologies and foster business model transformation, and a vicious cycle, where unfavourable conditions reinforce technological inertia and hinder strategic development. By integrating insights from innovation management, digital transformation, and business model theory, the framework offers a nuanced understanding of how technology and strategy intersect and provides actionable guidance for managers seeking to move beyond operational improvements toward reimagining value creation, delivery, and capture in the digital age.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/systems14010004","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,19]],"date-time":"2025-12-19T14:27:16Z","timestamp":1766154436000},"page":"4","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Industry 4.0 Technologies as Drivers of Strategic and Business Model Innovation: A Conceptual Framework"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4156-7922","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nelson","family":"Duarte","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"INESCTEC, ESTG, Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico do Porto, Rua do Curral, Margaride, 4610-156 Felgueiras, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2486-4511","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rebecca Kechen","family":"Dong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Management Discipline, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2017.12.019","article-title":"Fortune favors the prepared: How SMEs approach business model innovations in Industry 4.0","volume":"132","author":"Buliga","year":"2018","journal-title":"Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.2478\/bsrj-2023-0001","article-title":"Disruptive Business Model Innovation and Digital Transformation","volume":"14","author":"Furjan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Bus. Syst. Res."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"122307","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2022.122307","article-title":"Digital technology and business model innovation: A systematic literature review and future research agenda","volume":"188","author":"Ancillai","year":"2023","journal-title":"Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1177\/0008125620920349","article-title":"Strategies for Digitalization in Manufacturing Firms","volume":"62","year":"2020","journal-title":"Calif. Manag. Rev."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"158","DOI":"10.1111\/jpim.12516","article-title":"Value Creation and Value Capture Alignment in Business Model Innovation: A Process View on Outcome-Based Business Models","volume":"37","author":"Parida","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Prod. Innov. Manag."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"40","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lrp.2017.06.007","article-title":"Business models and dynamic capabilities","volume":"51","author":"Teece","year":"2018","journal-title":"Long Range Plan."},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"105","article-title":"The impact of digitalization on business models","volume":"20","author":"Bouwman","year":"2018","journal-title":"Digit. Policy Regul. Gov."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101828","DOI":"10.1016\/j.telpol.2019.101828","article-title":"Digitalization, business models, and SMEs: How do business model innovation practices improve performance of digitalizing SMEs?","volume":"43","author":"Bouwman","year":"2019","journal-title":"Telecomm. Policy"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"301","DOI":"10.1504\/IJEBR.2025.145859","article-title":"Maturity or readiness How to measure the levels of digitalisation The case of T\u00e2mega e Sousa Region","volume":"29","author":"Duarte","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int. J. Econ. Bus. Res."},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"200","article-title":"Fifteen Years of Research on Business Model Innovation: How Far Have We Come, and Where Should We Go?","volume":"43","author":"Foss","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Manag."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"180","DOI":"10.1016\/j.indmarman.2019.11.019","article-title":"Digitization capability and the digitalization of business models in business-to-business firms: Past, present, and future","volume":"86","author":"Ritter","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ind. Mark. Manag."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"118","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsis.2019.01.003","article-title":"Understanding digital transformation: A review and a research agenda","volume":"28","author":"Vial","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Strateg. Inf. Syst."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"119869","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2019.119869","article-title":"Industry 4.0, digitization, and opportunities for sustainability","volume":"252","author":"Ghobakhloo","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpe.2019.01.004","article-title":"Industry 4.0 technologies: Implementation patterns in manufacturing companies","volume":"210","author":"Frank","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Prod. Econ."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"137006","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2023.137006","article-title":"Industry 4.0 innovations and their implications: An evaluation from sustainable development perspective","volume":"405","author":"Khan","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.7433\/s122.2023.04","article-title":"Digital servitization as Business Model Innovation: An explorative study on the role of absorptive capacity","volume":"41","author":"Ancillai","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sinergie Ital. J. Manag."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.1111\/1467-8551.00375","article-title":"Towards a Methodology for Developing Evidence-Informed Management Knowledge by Means of Systematic Review","volume":"14","author":"Tranfield","year":"2003","journal-title":"Br. J. Manag."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"333","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusres.2019.07.039","article-title":"Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines","volume":"104","author":"Snyder","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Bus. Res."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101717","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ibusrev.2020.101717","article-title":"The art of writing literature review: What do we know and what do we need to know?","volume":"29","author":"Paul","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. Bus. Rev."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"n71","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.n71","article-title":"The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews","volume":"372","author":"Page","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., and Altman, D.G. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. PLoS Med., 6.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.1000097"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1007\/s13162-020-00161-0","article-title":"Designing conceptual articles: Four approaches","volume":"10","author":"Jaakkola","year":"2020","journal-title":"AMS Rev."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102813","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techsoc.2025.102813","article-title":"Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in the research process\u2014A survey of researchers\u2019 practices and perceptions","volume":"81","author":"Andersen","year":"2025","journal-title":"Technol. Soc."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhou, Q., and Sheu, J.B. (2025). The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in operations research: Review and future research agenda. J. Oper. Res. Soc., 1\u201321.","DOI":"10.1080\/01605682.2025.2561762"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3164","DOI":"10.1080\/00472778.2023.2293910","article-title":"Managerial ties, external resources, and business model innovation: Interplay and mediation analysis","volume":"62","author":"Clausen","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Small Bus. Manag."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lrp.2017.07.006","article-title":"Business models and business model innovation: Between wicked and paradigmatic problems","volume":"51","author":"Foss","year":"2018","journal-title":"Long Range Plan."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"379","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lrp.2013.08.004","article-title":"Business model: What it is and what it is not","volume":"47","author":"DaSilva","year":"2014","journal-title":"Long Range Plan."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-6486.2011.01030.x","article-title":"The Effects of Culture and Structure on Strategic Flexibility during Business Model Innovation","volume":"49","author":"Bock","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Manag. Stud."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2299","DOI":"10.1002\/bse.3022","article-title":"Organizational change in response to environmental complexity: Insights from the business model innovation literature","volume":"31","author":"Martinez","year":"2022","journal-title":"Bus. Strat. Environ."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1143","DOI":"10.1108\/JMTM-01-2018-0020","article-title":"Digitalization and its influence on business model innovation","volume":"30","author":"Rachinger","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Manuf. Technol. Manag."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Li, F. (2020). The digital transformation of business models in the creative industries: A holistic framework and emerging trends. Technovation, 92\u201393, 102012.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.technovation.2017.12.004"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusres.2020.09.023","article-title":"Exploring the impact of big data analytics capabilities on business model innovation: The mediating role of entrepreneurial orientation","volume":"123","author":"Ciampi","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Bus. Res."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1002\/sej.1191","article-title":"Unlocking the hidden value of concepts: A cognitive approach to business model innovation","volume":"9","author":"Martins","year":"2015","journal-title":"Strat. Entrep. J."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"354","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lrp.2009.07.010","article-title":"Business model innovation: Opportunities and barriers","volume":"43","author":"Chesbrough","year":"2010","journal-title":"Long Range Plan."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5714","DOI":"10.1007\/s13132-024-02096-4","article-title":"Navigating the Digital Odyssey: AI-Driven Business Models in Industry 4.0","volume":"16","author":"Ji","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Knowl. Econ."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113668","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusres.2023.113668","article-title":"Moving from servitization to digital servitization: Identifying the required dynamic capabilities and related microfoundations to facilitate the transition","volume":"158","author":"Chirumalla","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Bus. Res."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"502","DOI":"10.1108\/EJIM-02-2023-0107","article-title":"Industry 4.0 base technologies and business models: A bibliometric analysis","volume":"26","author":"Ferrigno","year":"2023","journal-title":"Eur. J. Innov. Manag."},{"key":"ref_38","first-page":"190","article-title":"The role of high-performance people management practices in industry 4.0: The case of medium-sized Spanish firms","volume":"15","author":"Llinas","year":"2019","journal-title":"Intang. Cap."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"276","DOI":"10.1002\/bse.3970","article-title":"Industry 4.0-driven business model innovation for supply chain sustainability: An exploratory case study","volume":"34","author":"Krishnan","year":"2025","journal-title":"Bus. Strategy Environ."},{"key":"ref_40","first-page":"808","article-title":"The effect of disruption technology, opportunities and challenges of telecommunication industry 4.0 in Indonesia","volume":"7","author":"Arifiani","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Recent Technol. Eng."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1259","DOI":"10.5267\/j.msl.2019.11.032","article-title":"Driving transformation performance through innovation and experience model","volume":"10","author":"Bawono","year":"2020","journal-title":"Manag. Sci. Lett."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"341","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2019.01.014","article-title":"Servitization and Industry 4.0 convergence in the digital transformation of product firms: A business model innovation perspective","volume":"141","author":"Frank","year":"2019","journal-title":"Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.7433\/s123.2024.04","article-title":"Business model innovation and ambidexterity in Industry 4.0","volume":"42","author":"Paiola","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sinergie Ital. J. Manag."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.33152\/jmphss-6.2.1","article-title":"Role of Industry 4.0 in Pandemic Covid-19 and Shifting Business Models","volume":"6","author":"Malik","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Manag. Pract. Humanit. Soc. Sci."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"138023","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2023.138023","article-title":"Industry 5.0 implications for inclusive sustainable manufacturing: An evidence-knowledge-based strategic roadmap","volume":"417","author":"Ghobakhloo","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_46","first-page":"2441","article-title":"Antecedents to cognitive business model evaluation: A dynamic managerial capabilities perspective","volume":"16","author":"Heubeck","year":"2022","journal-title":"Rev. Manag. Sci."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Oh, K.S., Cho, M.H., and Park, B.I. (2025). The Comparative Impact of Conventional and Digital Innovations on Driving Corporate Sustainability: The Case of Venture Firms in South Korea. Sustainability, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/su17073226"},{"key":"ref_48","first-page":"100127","article-title":"Business analytics in manufacturing: Current trends, challenges and pathway to market leadership","volume":"6","author":"Omar","year":"2019","journal-title":"Oper. Res. Perspect."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1522","DOI":"10.1108\/BPMJ-12-2022-0663","article-title":"Understanding BMI from Industry 4.0, knowledge management and market uncertainty perspective","volume":"29","author":"Kafetzopoulos","year":"2023","journal-title":"Bus. Process. Manag. J."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1625","DOI":"10.1108\/EJIM-04-2020-0142","article-title":"Converging and diverging business model innovation in regional intersectoral cooperation\u2013exploring wine industry 4.0","volume":"24","author":"Dressler","year":"2020","journal-title":"Eur. J. Innov. Manag."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7782","DOI":"10.1109\/TEM.2024.3386185","article-title":"Digitalization in Family Business: Trajectories and Trends","volume":"71","author":"Anwar","year":"2024","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Eng. Manag."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"457","DOI":"10.55214\/25768484.v9i5.6925","article-title":"Enabling digital Servitization in Philippine manufacturing: A business model innovation framework for MSMEs in the industry 4.0 ERA","volume":"9","author":"Pacubas","year":"2025","journal-title":"Edelweiss Appl. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"M\u00fcller, J.M., and D\u00e4schle, S. (2018). Business model innovation of industry 4.0 solution providers towards customer process innovation. Processes, 6.","DOI":"10.3390\/pr6120260"},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"122078","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2022.122078","article-title":"Designing business models for Industry 4.0 technologies provision: Changes in business dimensions through digital transformation","volume":"185","author":"Marcon","year":"2022","journal-title":"Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change"},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104229","DOI":"10.1016\/j.respol.2021.104229","article-title":"Advanced manufacturing technology adoption and innovation: A systematic literature review on barriers, enablers, and innovation types","volume":"50","author":"Stornelli","year":"2021","journal-title":"Res. Policy"},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jdec.2024.01.006","article-title":"How SMEs respond to an exogenous shock: Diversification, servitization and digitalization","volume":"2","author":"Bettiol","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Digit. Econ."},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Savastano, M., Amendola, C., Bellini, F., and D\u2019Ascenzo, F. (2019). Contextual impacts on industrial processes brought by the digital transformation of manufacturing: A systematic review. Sustainability, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/su11030891"},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mart\u00edn, M.G., \u00c1lvarez, A.P., Ordieres-Mer\u00e9, J., Villalba-D\u00edez, J., and Morales-Alonso, G. (2021). New business models from prescriptive maintenance strategies aligned with sustainable development goals. Sustainability, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/su13010216"}],"container-title":["Systems"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-8954\/14\/1\/4\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,24]],"date-time":"2025-12-24T11:45:02Z","timestamp":1766576702000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-8954\/14\/1\/4"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,19]]},"references-count":58,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]}},"alternative-id":["systems14010004"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/systems14010004","relation":{},"ISSN":["2079-8954"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2079-8954","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,19]]}}}