Essential Implications of the Digital Transformation in Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 represents the coming fourth industrial revolution, which will lead the way to the Internet of Things, Data and Services. To help industrial companies successfully become true digital enterprises in the Industry 4.0 era, this study aims to survey the essential implications of the digital transformation by conducting focus group discussions. Seven major implications for industrial companies are explored, and six critical issues are identified by experts. For anyone involved in digital transformation research and those seeking strategies to enter the global Industry 4.0 ecosystem, this study should offer some necessary fundamentals in terms of theoretical analysis and problem resolution.