Digital Trends Research Articles

Spatial patterns of manufacturing sectors and digitalisation in Hungary in the age of Industry 4.0

ABSTRACT The study explores how the territorial structure of manufacturing sectors with differing technological intensities is influencing the spatial pattern of digitalisation in the early stages of the fourth industrial revolution. Using data from 2014 to 2019 for sectors classified according to technology intensity and indicators measuring digitalisation trends, we have conducted a correlation and cluster analysis of Hungarian districts (formerly LAU1 level). We found that the geography of manufacturing sectors determines the spatial patterns of digitalisation, and the digitalisation is more advanced in districts that concentrate sectors with high and medium-high technological intensity.

Academic Staff Research Productivity in Private Universities in Southwestern Nigeria

Research productivity (teaching, research, and community service) in any university is the totality of academic staff academic achievement within a given period of time which is partly used for university ranking. There has been a renewed interest in the debate about the quality and quantity of research output and the factors which influence the output of university lecturers at the same time. Therefore, this study assessed the level of academic staff research productivity in private universities in Southwestern, Nigeria. The survey design of the correlational type was adopted. Proportional to size and stratified random sampling techniques were used to select 30% of academic staff across the various ranks in the selected universities, making a total of 657. Academic staff research productivity (= 2.02) was low as against the norm test of 3.00. Low research productivity can be overcome if investment in research at private universities is increased and academic staff utilise them in line with the emerging digital trend in universities around the world.

Pemulihan Ekonomi Kota Pontianak melalui Digitalisasi UMKM Berbasis Ekonomi Kreatif

Economic issues within society become subjects of rigorous debate, especially in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Various recovery initiatives are undertaken by both governmental entities and the private sector, aimed at expediting the process of digital transformation within the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector. This research is specifically focused on Pontianak City, situated in West Kalimantan, with the primary objective of fostering economic growth by harnessing the potential of MSMEs as a vehicle for swift recovery and the facilitation of a digitalized creative economy. This study employs William F. Gluk's theory on the economic marketing strategies employed by companies operating within the specific environmental challenges they face to attain their objectives. The authors employ qualitative research methods to comprehensively analyze and interpret the social and community issues associated with this endeavor. The findings of this research indicate that MSMEs in Pontianak City possess considerable potential for augmenting productivity and enhancing competitiveness. Consequently, the local products and services generated exhibit a distinctive competitive advantage, rendering them capable of penetrating the national-scale market. Furthermore, the authors contend that Pontianak City, being the provincial capital and a prominent business hub within West Kalimantan, enjoys the support of numerous factors, including its sizable population and the accelerating digitalization trend. This, in turn, catalyzes the growth of the local wisdom economy within a digital marketplace framework. Consequently, the economy of Pontianak City is poised for long-term development, driven by the rapid and sustained transformation ushered in by digitalization.

Digitalization and Labor Restructuring

Abstract This editorial shows how the digital economy continuously reshapes work and employment. Based on a literature review, it illustrates that digitalization frequently implies job loss, de-skilling and measures to restrict co-determination and participation of labor. However, digitalization also offers opportunities for managers, employees and unions to create new work tasks and conditions for skilled work. After showing major trends of digitalization in the last decades, the editorial illustrates recent research fields in economic geography.

Adapting the Digital Servuction Model to Central Banks: Case Study: European Central Bank

Central bank communication has changed over the years, following the trend of digitalization. It has been used as a tool for the implementation of monetary policies since the 1990s, when central banks started publishing their inflation reports, outlooks, and meeting minutes on the road towards greater transparency, and to help meet their price stability mandate. This mandate cannot be achieved through traditional financial instruments alone, so digital communication and marketing has become an economic policy tool. The effectiveness of the European Central Bank’s online communication tools will be tested via a GAP model, by applying an adapted version of the servuction scale to the Bank and disseminating it to 500 citizens, with the purpose of measuring citizen satisfaction with its website and communications. The servuction model focuses on high quality services that are perceived as such by private sector customers, having a strong marketing component. The originality of the research consists in adapting it to the public sector, more specifically to central banks, and by treating citizens as customers throughout the study. The model was successfully applied to the European Central Bank, demonstrating that citizens’ expectations are highest regarding both the reliability and assurance dimensions, meaning that they want to feel confident in ECB actions, and to the understandability dimension of its online content. The largest gaps between citizens’ expectations and perceptions were identified within the efficiency, understandability, and empathy dimensions. In future, the study can be replicated and adapted to both national central banks and private banks within the European Union, assessing how citizens perceive their websites, communication, and marketing strategies, with the purpose of improving the latter two, and increasing civic engagement. The model can also be adapted to narrower topics relating to sustainable digital development, such as the expectations and perceptions of citizens with regards to central bank digital currencies.

The adoption of digital payments in emerging economies: challenges and policy responses

Purpose This paper aims to present a comprehensive overview of the emergence and significance of digital payments, focusing on their impact on competitiveness and the need for policy interventions. In addition, it explores the design of policies that promote the adoption of digital payments, highlighting the benefits they offer to providers and users. Design/methodology/approach The paper examines the technological advances that have driven the growth of digital payment systems. It identifies key requirements for successful adoption and discusses the associated risks, along with potential strategies to mitigate these risks. Findings The findings emphasize the importance of responsible implementation and safeguarding the well-being of end users to fully realize the benefits of digital payment adoption. Understanding the inherent risks and establishing effective risk mitigation mechanisms are crucial. This necessitates the development of appropriate infrastructure to support the provision of digital payment services. Research limitations/implications More research is needed to gain deeper insights into how emerging global trends in financial technology should be analyzed and understood by policymakers, service providers and users. Practical implications The findings of this study can guide policymakers, private sector managers and consumers in comprehending the effects of emerging digitalization trends and determining their adoption responses accordingly. Originality/value This paper stands out as one of the few research contributions that provide comprehensive and actionable policy recommendations to facilitate a smooth transition to a digital payments ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders.

Consequences of Growing Trend of Digital Transformation in Retail Business of India: A Contemporary Analysis

Abstract: The Indian retail industry is undergoing a rapid digital transition, which is being driven by a number of factors including digitalization, smartphone use, and widespread internet connectivity. Additionally, the government of India launched its flagship program, Digital India, to ensure that the nation is technologically advanced on the internet. The Indian retail industry has seen incredible expansion in recent years, with several new firms joining the market. The study came to the conclusion that the major critical factors influencing the online retail sector's digital trends. This study is descriptive, and convenient sampling was carried out among particular Indian retail establishments. The adoption of digitalization as a key technological development will determine how nations use it for years to come. It will guarantee economic efficiency and competitiveness, provide new goods and jobs, address issues with fund-raising, enhance governance, and address inequality. With a big population that lives in rural areas at a rate of over 60%, India is especially in need of digitalization to close the economic gap and empower its citizens to compete more effectively in the modern economy. The retail sector in India is rapidly changing as a result of a number of factors, including widespread digitalization, smartphone penetration, and internet access. In addition to making sure that our nation has digital technology capabilities.

Features of the Formation of the Digital Ecosystem of Industrial Enterprises in Order to Ensure Their Sustainable Development

In the article, the author analyzes the main trends of digitalization, which now have the strongest impact on the work of industrial enterprises. Since the formation of a digital ecosystem is becoming an important competitive advantage of the company, allowing to speed up communication between the company's divisions and counterparties, to increase the efficiency and speed of many business processes, the author considered it appropriate to develop a model to ensure the sustainability of business processes of an industrial enterprise in a digital ecosystem, within which binds together the two most important processes of modern transformation of economic entities - digitalization and focus on sustainable development. In the course of the research, it is proved that the creation of an efficient digital ecosystem at the enterprise significantly contributes to the implementation of the sustainable development strategy (ESG) of the enterprise and the achievement of its main goals. Against the background of sanctions restrictions, which also affected the IT industry to a considerable extent, the article assesses the problems of domestic industrial enterprises on the way to their digital transformation, as well as the possibilities of using domestic software, which are associated with financial support for such solutions from the state. The author also presents an example of algorithmization of business processes associated with reducing production costs using digital solutions on the example of a specific Russian industrial enterprise. Thus, based on the results of his research, the author comes to the conclusion about the high efficiency of the use of digital ecosystems in the structure of industrial enterprises and their unambiguously positive impact on the success of the implementation of ESG strategies.

Digitalization in Entrepreneurship Education: In Search of a New Approach

The paper aims to search for new approaches to entrepreneurship education in the digital age-related to the use of digital tools to achieve study results, such as expanding knowledge and increasing students’ entrepreneurial intention. This study examines various sources of scientific literature on digitization trends and challenges for entrepreneurship education and provides a statistical analysis of primary data. Identification of innovative learning tools, such as digital automatic software, and empirical research on the effectiveness of using the digital tool KABADA in the study process was carried out. The study reveals that university culture, lecturers’ and students’ competencies, and industry expectations are essential factors for the introduction of digitization in entrepreneurship education. The authors identified a new approach to entrepreneurship education using the digital automated software KABADA to create structured business plans that promote entrepreneurial intentions, but its use must be combined with classical studies.

Digitalization Trends and Their Possible Implications to SME Performance: Comparative Study Between Hungary and Azerbaijan

This comparative research intends to find similarities and differences in the digitalization level of Hungary and Azerbaijan. Following the state of art in digitalization, further focus is on the digitalization of small and medium enterprises in both countries. The secondary research is done through several international reports and databases collected for years 2018-2022, depending on the availability. The comparison is performed based on four subcategories of digitization areas defined by the European Commission. The study holds its uniqueness due to the absence of comparative research between the mentioned two countries and the indicators used. The results contribute to the awareness, existing knowledge and provide future research insights into digitalization trends of both countries.

Digital trends in autism: a scoping review exploring coverage of autism across YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.

Autism continues to be a leading neurodevelopmental disorder across adult and pediatric populations that transcends racial, ethnic, age, and socioeconomic groups worldwide. Autism care and treatment also exerts immense costs on the healthcare system and lost productivity which are partly attributed to the existing resource limitations globally. Organizations, campaigns, and policies exist worldwide in increasing equity and accessibility of resources and services to individuals with autism. In the context of our digital era, a wealth of information is also more readily available on autism through electronic communication including social media platforms. As YouTube, Twitter and Facebook are ever-growing and among the leading social media platforms in contemporary times, examination of content covered on autism across these communication mediums is timely and warranted. This review consolidates findings from 32 sources on the sources, formats, and nature of content covered on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook pertaining to a wealth of dimensions surrounding autism. Strengths and limitations of the studies and endeavors are presented. Implications for future campaign development, health equity, health policy, neurodiversity, and patient care are also delineated. Lastly, recommendations for future research and practice are discussed which present directions for tapping into the potential of YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook as health communication mediums across the ever-changing autism landscape.

Digitalization as a Sociocultural Characteristic of the Globalization Era

The research is dedicated to investigating the sociocultural characteristics of digitalization. The Digital Age has a great impact on the formation of individuals’ moral consciousness, and the main trends of digitalization and modern social development are examined in this work. The peculiarities of the influence of information and communication technologies on the formation of the value system of individuals are analyzed. The authors consider digitalization in the context of the formation of the world’s digital image and a digital individual. The problem of comprehension of digitalization processes in science and philosophy is presented. An examination of concepts such as “digitalization”, “information society”, and “social network” is carried out. The relevance of the topic is due to the fact that digitization and, by extension, informatization, are developing and significantly expanding the horizons of global scientific, technical, and socio-economic progress. Together, these lead to serious interactions between the ultramodern and traditional, the latter being formed over centuries’ of events in institutions and structures, but rapidly transformed in the the world of social communications. With traditional societies increasingly replaced by those which are virtually augmented, additional grounds are created for vast changes in various spheres of public life, in increasingly numerous locations, and sometimes also creating bases for the growth of instability and conflicts. The work aims to show the effect of digitalization on the value system of individuals, especially young people, based on theoretical analysis.The research methodology focuses upon a conceptualization of the phase model of digitalization, the problem of social Internet networks, the theory of the Information Age.

The State of the Art in Digital Construction of Clay Buildings: Reviews of Existing Practices and Recommendations for Future Development

Under the trend of digitization and global carbon reductions, clay construction has increasingly attracted attention due to advantages such as an excellent thermal performance, low carbon emissions, and high cost-effectiveness. In this article, an in-depth investigation is conducted into the potential, challenges, and future in the development of digital manufacturing technologies for clay architecture, especially 3D printing, robotic construction, and prefabrication systems. It is revealed through a review that digital clay construction is under rapid development and likely to provide a viable solution to achieving global carbon neutrality, which is conducive to addressing various regional issues. The key findings from this review are as follows. Firstly, as a flexible, precise, and low-carbon industrial solution, 3D printing lays a foundation for the extensive research on materials, equipment, and algorithm optimization. Secondly, the use of machine construction methods such as modern rammed earth technology and drone spraying is effective in improving efficiency and lowering costs. Lastly, the prefabricated building system shows its potential in renewing and developing the rammed earth architecture culture. These findings indicate a massive potential of digital clay construction to support sustainability efforts in the future.

Cyberspace Serves Culture: Experiences from Iran During the COVID-19 Crisis

During the last two years, we have witnessed incredible advancement in the growth of research on E-culture. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, this advancement was not only a Eurocentric development but could also be seen in non-European countries like Iran, which has accelerated rapidly towards digitalization. This paper is the first attempt to present a comprehensive review of Iranian digital cultural initiatives during the quarantine period of the COVID-19 outbreak (March 2020 to May 2020). This study uses VOSviewer software to analyze the digitalization trend in Iran from a thematic and geographic perspective. The results reveal that there was a significant ascending trend in the number of launched digital cultural projects in Tehran province during the quarantine period. Based on the data sourced from the General Directorate of Islamic Culture and Guidance of Tehran province ‘’اداره کل فرهنگ و ارشاد اسلامی استان تهران’’, 30 digital projects with a socio-cultural scope were identified. This result is in line with the development of digital capabilities in the country. A key finding was the dominance of research related to social media platforms, as highlighted by the high number of digital cultural activities that were launched through Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram. This has clear implications for the improvement of E-culture in the country and the development of this domain by recognition of its social, economic, and environmental values. Moreover, the majority of cultural activities revolved around virtual festivals celebrating Iran's intangible cultural heritage, including prominent events like Nowruz (the Persian New Year). This has revealed the dominant role of cultural heritage in the progress of digitalization. These results enabled us to provide an initial framework of digital tendencies in Iran that could potentially contribute to E-culture promotion through the development of new digital tools and formats.

Digital Dependency as a Burden: Impact of Active Aging for Tech Adoption in Brazil and Chile

Successful aging and active aging policies frame independence in old age as an expectation and a virtue in opposition to the once desired reciprocity between generations. Due to digitalization trends worldwide, mastering digital skills becomes another responsibility for older adults to remain independent. However, this process can create new forms of dependency as support from skilled users – usually the younger generation – is crucial for technology adoption among older adults. This study addresses how older adults may experience digital dependency as a personal failure and a burden upon younger generations. We conducted long-term ethnography among older adults adopting new technology in Brazil and Chile, countries with rapidly aging populations that have implemented aggressive digitalization strategies. The fast digitalization of public services may increase the risks of social exclusion for older adults as the less connected and less skilled age group in Latin America. Contrary to expectations suggested by the research literature, participants preferred to enroll in smartphone workshops instead of relying on their children. We volunteered in smartphone workshops for older adults and mapped the difficulties they face when adopting new technologies and the strategies they develop afterward to use technology while avoiding dependency. Participants may restrict their use of smartphones due to their limited digital skills or claim a lack of interest in technology as a self-defense strategy against appearing ignorant or incompetent. We found that participants preferred relying on friends for support instead, perceiving their help as a form of peer collaboration.

Current situation and trend of medical laboratory results homogeneity management

Medical test results are indispensable and important tools in diagnosis and treatment services. It is necessary to promote the homogenization of test results first, because homogenization is the basis for mutual recognition of test results. Mutual recognition of medical test results can help share resources among medical institutions, provide more reliable test results for early prevention, screening and treatment of diseases, and reduce repeated tests, thus improving people's medical experience. In recent years, with the deepening of medical system reform and the promotion of graded diagnosis and treatment, governments have continuously introduced policies of mutual recognition of test results around country. However, homogenization is a prerequisite for mutual recognition of test results, with the emergence of intelligent medicine in the era of internet big data, opportunities and challenges coexist in the development of homogeneity management. In the future, the homogeneity of medical test results will present a trend of digitalization, automation, informatization and intelligence.

The impact of digital presence and use of information technology on business performance of veterinary practices: a case study of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The veterinary profession is facing various challenges in the 21st century, such as livestock production intensification, shifting distribution of infectious diseases, growing focus on food safety alongside growing demand for companion animals' veterinary services. Information technologies and digitalization trends had driven changes in many business sectors, including providing veterinary services thus opening new avenues to overcome the existing challenges this profession is facing. A study was conducted among 244 veterinary practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The gathered information related to subjects involving digital presence, the utilization of information technologies, and the business performance. To obtain this information, a personalized questionnaire was utilized as the means for collecting data. The study revealed that only 10.2% had a business-associated website, and 54.9% were present on at least one social media platform. The study suggests that a positive impact on annual profit can be achieved through the implementation of effective digital marketing strategies such as web presence, search engine optimization, Google business account existence, website Google advertisement, continuous administration of social media, and social media advertisement. The statistical analysis indicates that Google advertisements, website search engine optimization, and social media advertisements greatly affect annual profit. Improving digital presence of veterinary businesses with professionally managed websites, use of social media platforms, investment in online marketing strategies, and adopting telehealth services and online access to patient records positively affects business performance and better fits the growing needs of clients and society.

ДІДЖИТАЛІЗАЦІЯ ЕКОНОМІК ТА СУСПІЛЬСТВА: СВІТОВІ ТЕНДЕНЦІЇ

The article examines global trends in the digitalization of economies and society. The current state and level of digitalization of the world's countries is studied using modern tools for determining its level, namely the digitalization index, the index of digital economy and society, and the network readiness index. The experience of the leading countries, in particular Denmark, Finland and the United States, in securing leading positions is analyzed, and further prospects for their development are identified. The main trends in the digitalization of economies and society are determined, namely the development of 5G communication technology, the use of data analytics, increasing the level of cybersecurity, automation of business processes, and the introduction of artificial intelligence and machine learning systems. The dynamism of the digitalization process today covers all aspects of society, including economic and cultural, which form the prerequisites for transformational changes in global economic systems. It is quite difficult to imagine the life of a modern citizen or business entity without the tools and means of digital technologies, namely highspeed Internet, various gadgets and services that speed up most household and management processes. All of this causes instability and variability in the external environment in which businesses operate and the internal environment in which society participates. Digitalization is fundamentally changing the economy and society as a whole, which stimulates the development of entrepreneurial innovations, productivity, labor market growth, and intensifies globalization processes and regional economic growth. All of this requires new skills and abilities, improving the level and adaptation of information and communication technologies to new requirements. The identified technological trends of digitalization will lead to a further process of digital transformation, which will ensure the introduction of significant innovative solutions to the market and improvement of various processes of life of society, business and the country. That is why the role of further research of digitalization trends and tendencies that will have a significant impact on everyday life of society, business processes and the economy as a whole remains.

Model for assessing the digital maturity of general education: methodological foundations and development technologies

Problem and purpose. The general trends of digitalization and its consequences directly affect all levels of the education system, manifesting themselves in the creation of a digital educational environment, and related significant changes in the theory and practice of training and education, the introduction of electronic and network didactic tools and instruments, etc. In this connection, there is a need to develop models and tools for a comprehensive assessment of the level of digital maturity of a general education organization, allowing to determine the potential, areas and strategies of digital transformation of general education. The results of such assessment will serve as a source for designing profiles of the levels of digital maturity of schools, on the basis of which they can determine the deficits and effects of the digital transformation process. Purpose of the study: to develop a model and tools for assessing the digital maturity of educational organizations of general education. Materials and methods. In developing the digital maturity assessment model for a school, methodological approaches were used: process, system, qualimetric and a wide range of methods: morphological methods (distinguishing structural components of the system and their attributes), structuring methods (partitioning the system into hierarchical and matrix structures), group modelling methods (generating initiatives), synectics method (generating alternatives), methods of working with information arrays (search, processing, analysis of information), description methods (characterisation of structural. Results of the study. This study has systematized the ideas about the degree of study of the issue of "digital maturity" (hereinafter – DEM) in foreign and domestic Russian scientific publications: the approaches that determine the understanding of the DEM category have been identified and systematized, the depth of penetration into the essence of studying the processes of DEM diagnosis and their impact on the digital transformation in individual organizations has been analyzed. On the basis of this study, we were able to develop and test a model for the assessment of CP in general education organizations as a tool of predictive forecasting of general education development in the context of digital transformation. Analysis of the data obtained during the pilot testing on the overall integral indicator revealed: personnel problems (9%), problems with infrastructure support (21%) and the digital culture of general education organizations (15%). Conclusion. It is obvious that optimisation of the processes of digital transformation of general education will have a qualitative impact on the unified digital educational ecosystem of a modern school, contributing to the creation of new models based on big data analysis. The results of the study have confirmed that the timely acquisition of information on digital maturity by school leaders, educational authorities will allow diagnosing existing problems, risks, prospects and making adequate managerial decisions both with regard to the digital transformation of the general education system and specific educational organizations.

The Future of Logistics: A Literature Review of Digitalization Trends

The aim of this study is to conduct a literature review on the impact of digitalization trends on logistics and its forthcoming developments. In order to perform the literature review, the PRISMA 2020 flowchart was used to select representative articles on this topic published in the Scopus database, aiming to identify emerging trends, challenges and opportunities in logistics.