IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ine/journl/v60y2025i69p42-65.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Digital transformation towards Industry 4.0 in Spain: An analysis of the progress of Smart Factory implementation

Author

Listed:
  • Sonia García-Moreno

    (University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain)

Abstract

This study investigates Industry 4.0 implementation in Spain, focusing on strategies integrating IoT, AI, Big Data, and robotics. Analyses illustrate the digital maturity of Spanish industries, highlighting regional variability and the need for tailored support policies to enhance national competitiveness. Objective: This study explores the complexity and practical implementation of Industry 4.0 in Spain, elucidating national strategies and programs. It provides quantitative and qualitative data on Spain's advancements in Industry 4.0 technologies, with a regional case study demonstrating the concept's application. Method: A systematic search using databases such as DIALNET, SCOPUS, and Web of Science (WoS) focused on recent studies with keywords like "Industry 4.0," "smart factory," and "digital transformation." Relevant articles were identified through inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quantitative analysis used sources including the National Institute of Statistics (INE) of Spain, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Bank Open Data, and EUROSTAT. The Spanish public platform “HADA†analysed industries' digital maturity, assessing their incorporation of digital technologies in operations and strategy. Results: Spain's digital maturity map reveals regional disparities. Northern regions like País Vasco and Navarra exhibit "Dynamic" and "Leader" levels due to advanced Industry 4.0 integration and robust infrastructure. Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, and Andalucía show "Competent" levels, indicating significant digitalization efforts but room for optimization. Higher R&D investment correlates with higher digital maturity. Implementation issues include varying levels of data automation, integration with suppliers and customers, and sector-specific challenges. Regions with lower maturity need tailored support policies to address these challenges, increase R&D investment, improve infrastructure, and foster collaboration. Castilla-La Mancha has potential to advance with adequate support, demonstrating the importance of customized strategies for effective digital transformation.Originality:This study is original, providing an overview of the state of Spain in implementing the complex concept of Industry 4.0.

Suggested Citation

  • Sonia García-Moreno, 2025. "Digital transformation towards Industry 4.0 in Spain: An analysis of the progress of Smart Factory implementation," Romanian Journal of Economics, Institute of National Economy, vol. 60(1(69)), pages 42-65, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ine:journl:v:60:y:2025:i:69:p:42-65
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.revecon.ro/articles/2025-1/2025-1-3.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ghasemaghaei, Maryam, 2021. "Understanding the impact of big data on firm performance: The necessity of conceptually differentiating among big data characteristics," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Lutfi, Abdalwali & Alrawad, Mahmaod & Alsyouf, Adi & Almaiah, Mohammed Amin & Al-Khasawneh, Ahmad & Al-Khasawneh, Akif Lutfi & Alshira'h, Ahmad Farhan & Alshirah, Malek Hamed & Saad, Mohamed & Ibrahim, 2023. "Drivers and impact of big data analytic adoption in the retail industry: A quantitative investigation applying structural equation modeling," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    2. Shaik, Aqueeb Sohail & Nazrul, Asif & Alshibani, Safiya Mukhtar & Agarwal, Vaishali & Papa, Armando, 2024. "Environmental and economical sustainability and stakeholder satisfaction in SMEs. Critical technological success factors of big data analytics," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    3. Maryia Zaitsava & Elona Marku & Maria Chiara Guardo & Azar Shahgholian, 2023. "A fine-grained perspective on big data knowledge creation: dimensions, insights, and mechanism from a pilot study," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 27(2), pages 547-573, June.
    4. Rodepeter, Elisa & Gschnaidtner, Christoph & Hottenrott, Hanna, 2023. "Big data and start-up performance," ZEW Discussion Papers 23-061, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    5. Oduro, Stephen & De Nisco, Alessandro & Mainolfi, Giada, 2023. "Do digital technologies pay off? A meta-analytic review of the digital technologies/firm performance nexus," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    6. Muhammad Umar Khan & Iram Fatima, 2025. "The role of big data analytics capability in the telecommunication sector of Pakistan: the chain mediating effect of data integration capability and data-driven decision making," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 51-85, February.
    7. Justy, Théo & Pellegrin-Boucher, Estelle & Lescop, Denis & Granata, Julien & Gupta, Shivam, 2023. "On the edge of Big Data: Drivers and barriers to data analytics adoption in SMEs," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    8. Sun, Pengfei & Yuan, Chunhui & Li, Xiaolong & Di, Jia, 2024. "Big data analytics, firm risk and corporate policies: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PB).
    9. Aversa, Joseph & Azmy, Ali & Hernandez, Tony, 2024. "Untapping the potential of mobile location data: The opportunities and challenges for retail analytics," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    10. Falana, Gbenga Ayodele & Olusola Esther (PhD) & Dagunduro, Muyiwa Emmanuel, 2023. "Effect of Big Data on Accounting Information Quality in Selected Firms in Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(3), pages 789-806, March.
    11. Perdana, Arif & Lee, Hwee Hoon & Koh, SzeKee & Arisandi, Desi, 2022. "Data analytics in small and mid-size enterprises: Enablers and inhibitors for business value and firm performance," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    12. Mingle Zhou & Yu Wang & Xiaohui Huang & Gang Li, 2023. "Can open government data policy improve firm performance? Evidence from listed firms in China," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(5), pages 2593-2603, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:ine:journl:v:60:y:2025:i:69:p:42-65. 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: Valentina Vasile (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/inacaro.html .

    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.