Past, present, and future barriers to digital transformation in manufacturing: A review

Research in digital transformation (DT) is burgeoning. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic has not only influenced both day-to-day functions of firms dramatically, but also their efforts to become more digitally mature. In this review paper, we discuss the barriers to DT before, during, and what may well continue after the COVID-19 pandemic and offer a new strategy discipline-Strategic Doing-that may be useful to manufacturing firms in achieving successful DT. We discuss the divergent definitions and drivers of DT diving deep into the barriers for manufacturing firms to mature digitally. We briefly describe digital readiness and current efforts of DT in manufacturing while describing the impact of COVID-19 on DT initiatives. We conclude by describing Strategic Doing and suggesting new paths for research in this area.

Automated summary

The paper explores the impact of COVID-19 on digital transformation in manufacturing industries, discussing barriers and proposing the Strategic Doing discipline as a solution. The authors delve into definitions, drivers, and current efforts in DT, as well as the effects of the pandemic, concluding with suggestions for further research.