Unlocking Digital Transformation: How Portuguese Companies View Industry 4.0 Benefits, Barriers, and Success Factors

This article examines how Portuguese companies perceive Industry 4.0 (I4.0), focusing on its benefits, challenges, and critical success factors. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining a Likert-scale questionnaire and open-ended questions to gather data. The empirical data was collected from a sample of 52 respondents with high education levels from the North region of Portugal. The results indicate a generally positive perception of I4.0, especially regarding innovation, efficiency, and profitability. However, challenges such as high investment costs and knowledge gaps were also highlighted. Critical success factors include top management involvement, digitalization, and strategic alignment. The study shows no statistically significant differences in perceptions across activity, the areas of activity, or the industry sector. This suggests that the digital divide may be narrowing, and there is a convergence in digital transformation priorities across industries. In conclusion, while I4.0 is widely perceived as beneficial, its successful implementation depends heavily on a balanced integration of technology, human capital, and strategic vision. Organizations must go beyond investing in new technologies by also fostering a supportive environment characterized by leadership, training, and clear alignment with broader goals such as sustainability and data governance. Future research could explore how different companies address these challenges and provide specific strategies for I4.0 adoption. Finally, the study is supported by a predominance of high education levels among respondents, which may only partially represent the broader workforce involved in I4.0.