Policy Brief #66: Industry 4.0 technologies: benefits, adoption and acceptance of employees

Industry is digitally transitioning to the so-called Industry 4.0. Industry 4.0 promises improved flexibility and customisation in production processes by capturing and analysing live data supported by (new) technologies. Key technologies are: cobots, digital work instructions, artificial intelligence, exoskeletons and the Internet of Things (IoT).[1] The successful adoption of industry 4.0 depends on well-designed technologies and involved workers that went through a change management process. Forgetting about the second part might lead to lost investments and slow adoption rates. In this policy brief, we share the lessons learned from two projects focused on the adoption of new technologies. We also reflect on the current stage of Industry 4.0 implementation, challenges that companies face and suggest concrete solutions that can help achieve success.