Proposal guidelines to implement the concepts of industry 4.0 into information technology companies

PurposeThe goal of this work is to propose guidelines for the Information Technology (IT) companies in Brazil to implement the concepts of Industry 4.0.Design/methodology/approachThis research study used inductive method, exploratory and descriptive research, and a bibliographic search was performed, besides using a qualitative research as field research. The IT professionals of companies in Brazil were used as the research university.FindingsWith the advances of technology and the advents of industrial revolutions, the profile of professionals and the relationship between employees and companies have been altered, fact that was demonstrated in the field research, making it possible to highlight: the knowledge degree of managers about the theme, it means, the perception of what Industry 4.0 is; how the organizations have already been adjusting to the new industrial revolution; the main challenges for this adjustment; the relevance for clients and opponents; among other discoveries. Therefore, companies must adapt to the new market demands, by improving their processes, investing in new technologies and training their employees.Practical implicationsActions for implementing Industry 4.0 in IT companies were proposed, such as understanding its organization, defining in which area of the business model the organization intends to make/have changes, discovering tendencies and developments that will have influence over the organization when applying the concepts of Industry 4.0, overcoming the major challenges and adhering to new technologies.Originality/valueWith the contribution toward the organization, it is expected that this study can fulfill the demands of clients and provide cost, personnel and time savings the best way possible. For the academy, the contribution lies in presenting a research study with a new theme and with focus on IT.