A technology assessment and implementation model for evaluating socio-cultural and technical factors for the successful deployment of Logistics 4.0 technologies

Abstract

The Logistics 4.0 research stream has been heavily focused on the use of new digital technologies to achieve higher degrees of productivity and flexibility in logistics processes and operations. Whereas in many cases impacting positively the business performance, their introduction also affects the nature of the work of human logistics operators. Furthermore, the interactions between technical (logistics) systems and socio-cultural factors have been widely overlooked in the Industry 4.0 literature. This makes it difficult to provide univocal, tactical, and structured approaches to successfully guide the introduction of Logistics 4.0 technologies on the shop floors and warehouses, while securing the employees' trust, motivation, and engagement, and consequently, improving not only business performance but also employees' job satisfaction. This paper proposes a Technology Assessment and Implementation Model, with particular consideration of socio-cultural factors, to serve as a functional guiding tool to follow during the deployment of Logistics 4.0 technologies to ensure operators' smooth acceptance of the newly digitalized workplace.