Internet of Things (IoT) Technology Research in Business and Management Literature: Results from a Co-Citation Analysis

The role of digitalization in business and management: a systematic literature review

Digitalization is a powerful engine for economic growth in the world. In 2018, digitally transformed firms represented 13.5 billion US dollars of global GDP and, towards the end of 2023, they are expected to represent 53.3 billion US dollars, over half of the general nominal GDP (Statista, Nominal GDP driven by digitally transformed and other enterprises worldwide 2018–2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1134766/nominal-gdp-driven-by-digitally-transformed-enterprises/, 2022). The main objective of this study is to provide information (highlighting principal research topics and research agendas) from the literature on state-of-the-art digitalization within firms through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). In all, 119 review articles on the most mature functional areas of the firm are analyzed: management, marketing, and finance and accounting, published in the WOS over the period 2018-April 2022. In this study, key relevant tendencies are identified in the most mature areas of the firm, which are the impact of digital technologies on the analysis of consumer behavior; digitalization and green innovation within organizations; and blockchain technology applied to financial services. The main contributions of this work are as follows: (1) to provide the most complete and up-to-date review of digitalization from a global perspective, summarizing the current state of knowledge within an integrated framework; (2) to reduce the complexity of digitalization by offering structure and clarity; and (3) to offer links between digitalization and established points of view in the literature on management, marketing, finance, and accounting. The novelty of this paper is centered on a joint analysis of digitalization, digital transformation, and digital technologies, taking into account the most mature functional areas of the firm.

Adopting wearables to customize health insurance contributions: a ranking-type Delphi

Background

Wearables, as small portable computer systems worn on the body, can track user fitness and health data, which can be used to customize health insurance contributions individually. In particular, insured individuals with a healthy lifestyle can receive a reduction of their contributions to be paid. However, this potential is hardly used in practice.

Objective

This study aims to identify which barrier factors impede the usage of wearables for assessing individual risk scores for health insurances, despite its technological feasibility, and to rank these barriers according to their relevance.

Methods

To reach these goals, we conduct a ranking-type Delphi study with the following three stages. First, we collected possible barrier factors from a panel of 16 experts and consolidated them to a list of 11 barrier categories. Second, the panel was asked to rank them regarding their relevance. Third, to enhance the panel consensus, the ranking was revealed to the experts, who were then asked to re-rank the barriers.

Results

The results suggest that regulation is the most important barrier. Other relevant barriers are false or inaccurate measurements and application errors caused by the users. Additionally, insurers could lack the required technological competence to use the wearable data appropriately.

Conclusion

A wider use of wearables and health apps could be achieved through regulatory modifications, especially regarding privacy issues. Even after assuring stricter regulations, users’ privacy concerns could partly remain, if the data exchange between wearables manufacturers, health app providers, and health insurers does not become more transparent.

Digital Transformation Strategies Enabled by Internet of Things and Big Data Analytics: The Use-Case of Telecommunication Companies in Greece

Both Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data Analytics (BDA) are innovations that already caused a significant disruption having a major impact on organizations. To reduce the attrition of new technology implementation, it is critical to examine the advantages of BDA and the determinants that have a detrimental or positive impact on users’ attitudes toward information systems. This article aims to evaluate the intention to use and the perceived benefits of BDA systems and IoT in the telecommunication industry. The research is based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Data were collected by 172 users and analyzed using Multivariate Regression Analysis. From our findings, we may draw some important lessons about how to increase the adoption of new technology and conventional practices while also considering a variety of diverse aspects. Users will probably use both systems if they think they will be valuable and easy to use. Regarding BDA, the good quality of data helps users see the system’s benefits, while regarding IoT, the high quality of the services is the most important thing.

It takes two to tango: technological and non-technological factors of Industry 4.0 implementation in manufacturing firms

It is commonly held that new technologies improve the productivity of organizations. However, technology acceptance does not happen instantaneously—it depends on complementary, non-technological changes in organizational behaviour. The lack of the latter may present a barrier to technology implementation and could even result in adverse effects on productivity. This is often the case in emerging economies that are deeply embedded in mature technological frameworks and with limited readiness for the adoption of new technologies. Using data from organizations in the manufacturing sector of an emerging European economy, we empirically tested the effects of technological and non-technological factors of the organizational implementation of Industry 4.0 principles on productivity. The results of the investigation, based on structural equation modelling, reveal the positive effects of technology-related Industry 4.0 factors—such as the Internet of Things, cyber-physical systems, and cloud computing—on productivity. The findings also reveal that these effects are enhanced by the mediating effect of non-technological changes to business models, organizational structures and cultures, strategies, and shifts in focus regarding customers, products, and services. This study adds to the existing body of knowledge in this area by revealing the relevance of the individual channels through which transitions towards Industry 4.0 can be enhanced, using traditional manufacturing environments often neglected in studies within this research field.

An Approach to Assessing Shopper Acceptance of Beacon Triggered Promotions in Smart Retail

This paper studies shopper acceptance for using beacons in the purchase process. The main goal is to examine shopper response to beacon-triggered promotions and propose a model that would help retail practitioners plan the implementation of beacons in stores. The model was evaluated via an in-market test to examine the effects of beacon-triggered promotion on shopper attention, technology acceptance, and the decision to purchase. The test was conducted in Belgrade, Serbia in 10 representative stores where beacons were implemented with 10 twin control stores. The SimplyTastly mobile application was used for sending notifications. Furthermore, two more in-market beacon activations were analysed in Croatia and Bulgaria. The results showed that shoppers accepted beacon technology and that beacon-triggered promotion had a positive impact on shopper attention, purchase behaviour, and the decision to purchase. The results show that the proposed model could serve as a sound basis for the implementation of beacon technology in retail.