Industrial Transformation Research Articles

The digital transformation of the construction industry: a review

PurposeAlthough the recent increased efforts to implement digital transformation (DT), the construction sector field lags behind other sectors, and the academic research on the DT process remains rather fragmented. This study is an integrative review of the construction related literature concerning the context, interventions and outcomes of the DT process.Design/methodology/approachWe have reviewed 15 cases presenting the DT process of construction companies, by employing the context-intervention-mechanism-output (CIMO) framework.FindingsRegarding the context (C), the major drivers of DT are top management support, organizational culture pro DT and customer requirements. Concerning the intervention (I), BIM technology dominates construction firms' approaches to DT, followed by cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT). The outcomes (O) of DT include direct and indirect benefits related to accurate cost calculations, cost reduction, improved work efficiency, high quality, as there are more complex results related to new business models and increased long-term competitiveness. DT in this field can be described considering three mechanisms (M), similar to a maturity model: traditional DT, niche DT and advanced DT.Originality/valueThis review contributes to the literature by integrating existing studies on the context, interventions and outcomes of the DT process of the construction industry.

The Significance of Achieving Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Goals in the Gansu Section of the Yellow River Basin from the Perspective of High-quality Development

The high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin and the strategies of peaking carbon dioxide emissions and achieving carbon neutrality are of great significance to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the sustainable development, and are major strategic decisions made by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China after careful consideration. Gansu Province deeply implements Xi Jinping's ecological civilization ideology, adheres to the organic integration of the goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions and achieving carbon neutrality with the strategy of high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, in order to ensure that the Gansu section of the Yellow River Basin achieves the "dual carbon" goals as scheduled. Based on data from the "Statistical Yearbook of Gansu Province", this article analyzes the economic development, carbon emissions, and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin in Gansu Province. It is concluded that from 2009 to 2021, the gross domestic product, total carbon emissions, and per capita carbon emissions in Gansu Province showed an overall fluctuating upward trend, while the carbon emission intensity showed a downward trend year by year. In combination with the actual situation in Gansu Province, achieving the "dual carbon" goals in the Gansu section of the Yellow River Basin will help promote the process of ecological civilization construction, build a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient energy system, promote energy consumption revolution, facilitate the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries, drive the construction of beautiful rural areas, and achieve the six aspects of significance for the people to live a better life.

Research on the Management of Green Supply Chain by the Digital Transformation of Tsingtao Beer

With the increasingly serious global climate change and environmental problems, green supply chain management has become one of the key paths for enterprises to achieve sustainable development. In this context, Tsingtao Brewery, as a leading enterprise in China 's beer industry, actively responds to the wave of digital transformation and integrates the green concept into all aspects of supply chain management. This study aims to explore the impact of Tsingtao Brewery 's digital transformation on green supply chain management and its effectiveness. This paper analyzes the degree and characteristics of the digital transformation of the beer industry, discusses the specific impact of digital transformation on the green supply chain management of Tsingtao Brewery, and proposes corresponding improvement strategies for the problems existing in the digital green supply chain management of Tsingtao Brewery. It aims to provide useful reference and reference for other enterprises in digital transformation and green supply chain management.

The Impact of Blockchain NFTs Technology on the Conservation and Preservation of Print Newspaper Content

The emergence of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) technology has led to a significant transformation in the creative industry and media content realm, introducing fundamental new opportunities for the media sector as well as for the conservation and preservation of newspaper content. This research aims to analyze the impact of implementing Blockchain NFTs technology on the conservation and preservation of print newspaper content. This is motivated by the fact that many print media outlets have not yet adopted NFT technology, despite its potential to secure and provide economic value to both old and new print news content. The adoption of Blockchain NFTs technology is considered a forward-looking technology that offers excellent opportunities for the preservation of print newspaper content. This research uses a qualitative method to explore the impact of Blockchain NFTs technology on the conservation and preservation of print newspaper content. The research methods include literature review, in-depth interviews, and secondary data analysis. The findings indicate that implementing Blockchain NFTs technology can provide benefits such as better data security, transparency, and the potential for new economic value through the creation and trading of NFTs from historically or otherwise significant print newspaper content. Keywords: Blockchain, Conservation, NFTs, Newspapers, Preservation

Research on Construction Digital Management System Based on Digital Twin

In the context of transformation and upgrading of the construction industry, traditional project construction management is still a complex "man-machine-environment" system engineering. The emerging digital twin technology provides new methods and technical means to realize the digitalization of construction. In order to solve the problems of redundant information of traditional construction management elements and low management efficiency, a digital model of construction management for physical space and non-physical space in the whole construction process is constructed, and an intelligent management platform for data collection and transmission of all elements of construction management is established. A process-oriented digital construction management system is proposed to realize the digital control of the construction management process. The study shows that by establishing an integrated management platform and collecting various building information elements in the whole construction process, the organic integration of construction management and digital twins can be realized, and the construction process management capabilities and management efficiency can be improved.

Digital transformation and environmental sustainability in the hospitality industry: A three-wave time-lagged examination

Despite the ongoing discussions of strategies to attain the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, discourse on the role of digital transformation in bolstering environmental sustainability remains sparse. This study delves into the role of digital transformation in enhancing the environmental sustainability of hotels and scrutinizes the role of sustainable business model innovation in mediating the relationship between digital transformation and environmental sustainability. Data were gathered from managers of star-rated hotels using a survey questionnaire in three waves. The data was analyzed through the application of structural equation modeling. The findings of the study reveal a positive relationship between digital transformation and environmental sustainability and that this relationship is mediated by sustainable business model innovation and moderated by the hotel star category. The study highlights the strategic significance of digital transformation and sustainable business model innovation in achieving environmental sustainability. The study also provides implications for managers, scholars and policymakers.

Mapping carbon emission networks in China: insights from province-level spatial differentiation

In the current global economic downturn and energy transition period, how to better coordinate the differences in carbon emission footprints among sub-regions has become an emerging issue. With the Gini decomposition method, social network analysis, and difference-in-differences estimation, this study explores the spatial differentiation of China’s province-level carbon emission footprint from 2000 to 2021. The findings of this study indicate that: (1) The Gini-based carbon emission footprint index shows an overall upward trend, revealing the constantly expanding differences among provinces. By comparison, the crude oil difference between the low-carbon pilot and non-pilot provinces is evident, reaching more than 0.15; (2) The carbon emission footprint spatial correlation network structure shows strong spillover characteristics. Provinces with higher network centrality have better structural holes, maintaining closer relationships with surrounding provinces. Those pilot provinces have a comparative advantage regarding social network position, as they have more effective mutual node connections; and (3) China’s low-carbon pilot policy can effectively reduce carbon emissions, with a certain reduction effect of -17.433 in comparison. Industrial rational transformation and green innovation performance are essential in this emission reduction process. At the crossroads of sustainable development, it will be incredibly beneficial to speed up the green transformation by enhancing the coordinated development of regional characteristics.

Research on digital transformation of banking industry must be associated with digital economy, digital society, green economy in Vietnam

The development of banking is an important factor in the economic development of the country and there have been many changes in the banking industry. These changes can be attributed to the development of technology: the popularity of mobile phones, the ability to access the Internet anytime, anywhere, the rapidly developing digital banking system... In the past few years, the finance - banking industry has been going through an important digital transformation period. However, in the strong development trend of technology, the banking system also faces many challenges, requiring a stronger transformation to be able to grasp digital technology trends, thereby applying and improving the quality of its products and services, making financial services more available, competitive and cost-effective. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of technology trends in banking, challenges and make some recommendations. Keywords: Digital Transformation, Banking Industry, Digital Economy.

Analysis of the competitiveness development of China’s marine industry clusters

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to analyze the current situation of the competitiveness development of China’s marine industrial clusters, reveal the existing problems and challenges, provide theoretical support and practical guidance for improving the competitiveness of China’s marine industrial clusters so as to promote industrial upgrading and high-quality development and help China realize the strategic transformation from a marine power to a marine power.Design/methodology/approachThis report first provides a detailed review of the current development status and existing issues of marine industry clusters in China. Second, it constructs an evaluation index system for the competitiveness development of China’s marine industry clusters and conducts competitiveness analysis and evaluation of typical marine industry clusters in China. Third, it explores the development trends and prospects of typical marine industry clusters in China. Finally, the report proposes countermeasures and suggestions for enhancing the competitiveness of marine industry clusters in China, focusing on resource optimization, cluster structure and cluster efficiency.Findings(1) Significant competitiveness of marine shipbuilding and ocean engineering equipment clusters: Through technological innovation and policy support, the marine shipbuilding and ocean engineering equipment clusters have shown a marked improvement in competitiveness, advancing toward high-quality development despite facing macroeconomic fluctuations. (2) Continuous improvement in marine energy and offshore wind power clusters: The competitiveness of marine energy and offshore wind power clusters has been continuously enhanced under supportive policies. However, there is still a need to optimize resource allocation and strengthen innovation stability to meet market challenges. (3) Strong growth potential of desalination and comprehensive utilization clusters: The desalination and comprehensive utilization clusters demonstrate robust growth potential in technological innovation and regional collaborative development. Future efforts should focus on the application of environmentally friendly and energy-saving technologies to ensure a balance between economic and ecological benefits.Originality/valueBy strengthening the competitiveness of industrial clusters, China can effectively respond to international competition, accelerate the transformation and upgrading of the marine industry and support its transition from a maritime power to a strong maritime nation. Hence, this study will focus on analyzing the competitiveness development of China’s marine industry clusters, identifying existing problems and challenges and providing theoretical support and practical guidance for enhancing the competitiveness of China’s marine industry clusters.

Industrial technological advance and the employment demand for China's labour force-Micro evidence from labour hiring in companies.

Technological advance in industry has complexity, divisibility, systematicity and market selectivity, and companies may generate technological investment expansion and form technological job demand, which may also lead to the occupation of company resources and trigger the replacement of the original jobs. This paper empirically examines the impact of technological advance in industry on the labour employment demand of companies by taking Chinese A-share listed companies as research samples from 2008 to 2022, and finds that: overall technological advance in industry has a suppressive effect on the labour employment demand of companies; The heterogeneity test shows that industrial technological advancement mainly produces inhibitory effects on the labour employment of low-education level employees and production sectors, while it produces incentive effects on the labour employment of high-education level employees and non-production sectors Industrial technological advancement mainly produces job substitution and destructive effects on the labour employment of low-education level employees and production sectors, while it produces incentive effects on the labour employment of high-education level employees and non-production sectors. Mechanism test shows that industrial technological advancement has incentive effects such as technology investment expansion effect and industry chain conduction effect, and also produces inhibitory effects such as enterprise resource occupation effect and employment delay effect. This paper extends the research on the impact of industrial technological advances on the labour employment demand of companies, and provides empirical evidence and policy insights for rationally arranging industrial structural transformation and labour employment decisions of companies in the context of 'stable employment'.

History of economic and demographic development of the Chinese northeastern province of Liaoning (1954–1978)

Importance. Studying the Chinese province of Liaoning’s economic and demographic development history allows us to trace the origin of current problems related to the migration of the Chinese population to the eastern and south-eastern provinces and the decline in the birth rate throughout China. The economic and demographic development of Liaoning Province after the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 until the start of the “reform and opening up” policy in 1978, was characterized by the processes of economic development and the formation of industrial infrastructure. The research aims to examine the history of the economic and demographic development of Liaoning Province in the context of the formation and functioning of northeast China's industrial base from 1954 to 1978.Materials and Methods. The study uses materials from the population censuses of the People’s Republic of China for 1953, 1964; five-year plans (1953–1957, 1958–1962, 1966–1970, 1971–1975, 1976–1980); statistical collection on the industrial development of Chinese provinces from 1949 to 1989; statistical collections of Liaoning Province. The main research methods in preparing the study were historical-genetic and statistical.Results and Discussion. In the process of reviewing the history of economic and demographic development of Liaoning Province from 1954 to 1978. several stages are identified: 1. 1953–1957 – economic and demographic development of Liaoning province during the implementation of the first five-year plan; 2. 1958–1966 – development in difficult conditions of industrial transformations; 3. 1966–1978 – development during the years of the “Cultural Revolution” and the transition to the policy of “reform and opening up”.Conclusion. The formation of Liaoning as an important industrial base of China from 1953 to 1957. had an impact on strengthening the economic potential of the province and the growth of its population due to the migration influx of young qualified personnel from all over China to Liaoning. The unprecedented growth of steel enterprises, as well as three years of natural disasters (1959, 1960, 1961) were reflected in a decline in the birth rate and a decrease in the natural increase in the population of Liaoning Province in 1958–1966. During the Cultural Revolution, the development of Liaoning was accompanied by a decrease in the share of the metallurgical industry and an increase in mechanical engineering. The pace of technological industrial renewal slows down, and the number of skilled workers arriving in Liaoning declined. These processes and the introduction of family planning policies in China were reflected in a decrease in the birth rate and natural population growth in the province.

Regulation mechanisms of smart tourism development in Kazakhstan

The process of digitalization within the realm of tourism is not merely a trend but rather a significant catalyst that is rapidly propelling the comprehensive transformation of the tourism industry into a new era of technological advancement. This intricate process fundamentally involves the seamless integration and application of cutting-edge digital technologies across various tourism-related activities and services. The advent of innovative solutions that harness the immense capabilities of artificial intelligence, the analytical power of big data, the security features of blockchain, and the interconnectedness provided by the Internet of Things primarily serves to enhance the overall quality of services offered, optimize pricing strategies to align with market demands, and improve risk management protocols within the industry. This paper methods uses 100 Scopus indexed papers about Smart Tourism Development in Kazakhstan. It is imperative to underscore the fact that the ongoing digitalization process, while offering numerous advantages, simultaneously imposes rigorous new requirements concerning the qualifications and competencies of staff members, as well as the paramount importance of data security measures and the protection of consumer rights in the digital environment. The effective management of this digital transformation necessitates a holistic and integrated approach that encompasses not only the development of robust infrastructure but also the enhancement of digital literacy among employees and the establishment of a dynamic and innovative ecosystem that encourages creativity and adaptability.

Research on the Architectural Generative Design Practices Driven by Optimization Algorithms

The development of technology will eventually lead to industry transformation. By studying the relevant contents of the optimization algorithm and its application cases, the present study aims to provide future architectural design practice methods and create more possibilities. This paper sorts the optimization algorithms development and the historical evolution of its application in architectural design. Simultaneously, the algorithm-based generative design platform and its corresponding plug-in have been generalized. Based on the analysis of two specific cases, this paper proposes the concept and process of building designs driven by an optimization algorithm. Under the background of transforming architectural practice towards “digitalization”in the new century, the general process of building generative designs driven by the optimization algorithm is summarized from different perspectives. These include the selection of design platform, determination of optimization goals for different design stages, and iterative process of algorithm optimization. Then, the development prospects of the optimization algorithm and its potential impact on architects are discussed.

Digitalization and pollution: Evidence from South Africa

Drawing on OECD Inter-Country Input-Output Database and Carbon Dioxide Emissions Embodied in International Trade Database from 2000 to 2018, this study measures the level of industrial digitalization of 44 industries in South Africa from the input side and empirically analyzes the effect of industrial digitalization on CO2 emissions. The results show that industrial digitalization significantly reduces the intensity of CO2 emissions in production. The effect of industrial digitalization on CO2 emissions exhibits more prominent for the tertiary industry and those industries with high digital skills. The digital inputs from foreign countries have a greater impact on CO2 emissions than domestic digital inputs. Industrial digitalization reduces CO2 emissions through two mechanisms: increasing productivity and optimizing the factor input structure. Furthermore, we compare South Africa with other four BRICS countries and find that significant emission reduction effects are observed through industrial digitalization in Brazil, South Africa and China. These findings carry important practical implications for industrial digital transformation and sustainable development in developing countries, particularly in promoting eco-friendly production and enhancing the quality of economic development in African nations.

Predicting green technology innovation in the construction field from a technology convergence perspective: A two-stage predictive approach based on interpretable machine learning

The construction industry, as a major global energy consumer and carbon emitter, plays a crucial role in achieving global sustainability. A key strategy for the green transformation of this industry—without compromising development—involves fostering green technology innovation. Nevertheless, existing studies exhibit a notable gap in identifying and evaluating potential green technology innovation opportunities within the construction field, leading to a scarcity of decision-making information for governments and innovation entities during the research and development stage. Recognizing this, our study proposes a two-stage technology opportunity prediction approach based on interpretable machine learning from the perspective of technology convergence. Diverging from previous methods, it not only predicts the probability of technology opportunity occurrence but also forecasts the technical impact of convergence opportunities. By analysing 600,442 patent documents in the green and construction fields, we identify 305 high-potential technology convergence opportunities. Our results reveal that technologies such as carbon capture and storage, pollution alarms, solar energy, forestry techniques, wind energy, energy-saving methods, and waste materials for water treatment have significant potential for convergence with construction technologies. Additionally, we analyse the influencing factors behind these convergence innovations, finding that technical similarity and proximity play crucial roles. These findings provide robust decision support for governments and industry stakeholders in formulating scientifically grounded green technology innovation strategies, thereby accelerating the green transformation of the construction industry and contributing to the goal of sustainable development.

Evaluation of Logistics Development Under the Visual Field of Low-Carbon Environmental Protection Based on Hierarchical Methods

The development of the modern logistics industry in China is relatively backward, and the logistics industry has always shown characteristics of high emissions, high energy consumption, and high pollution. The low-carbon transformation and development of the logistics industry has become a prominent issue. At present, research on low-carbon logistics mainly focuses on its definition and characteristics. The research on its influencing factors is mostly qualitative analysis, and there is relatively little research on performance evaluation. This article establishes a performance evaluation index system from the perspective of low-carbon environmental protection, including information technology level, warehousing, transportation, packaging, etc., and constructs a comprehensive evaluation model that combines an analytic hierarchy process with data envelopment analysis for low-carbon logistics performance evaluation. By reviewing the collected data and taking five logistics enterprises in China as examples, the feasibility of low-carbon logistics performance evaluation indicators and models was verified.

Servitization in the construction industry: a multiple case study from a value-adding perspective

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address the urgent need for transformation and upgrading in the construction industry amid the accelerating industrialization process. The focus is on understanding how value-added for construction enterprises can be achieved through servitization. Design/methodology/approach Grounded in the perspective of added value of construction enterprises, this paper uses a multicase analysis method, selecting four internationally renowned construction enterprises as the research subjects. The analysis investigates how these case study enterprises transition toward servitization and explores the trends in servitization in construction. Findings The research results indicate that servitization manifests in two aspects: contractor transition to servitization, and the shift of the construction industry toward integrated delivery. Furthermore, servitization in construction can achieve value-adding through three pathways: increasing product value, creating market demand and providing customized services. Originality/value This study contributes by providing insights into the manifestations of servitization and pathways for value-added. It provides a reference for the overall direction and basic strategy of servitization in construction.

Beyond bits and bytes: Examining the dynamic influence of digital economy on ecological footprint in OECD economies

This study explores the effect of digital economy on ecological footprint in 37 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) economies between 2007 and 2022. We employed different econometric models and techniques, such as the panel regression model, the polynomial quadratic model, the modified structural equation model, and the Sobel test. Our study results reveal that digital development directly reduces ecological footprint through improved energy-efficient data centers, optimized production processes, and real-time resource management. Additionally, the relationship between digital development and ecological footprint shows an inverted U-shaped pattern. This implies that the growth of digital economy initially increases the ecological footprint due to the resource-intensive nature of setting up digital infrastructure, including data centers and communication networks. However, as digital development matures, efficiency gains from technological advancements lead to a reduction in the ecological footprint. The mediation analysis reveals that economic growth, green technology adoption, and industrial structure transformation significantly mediate the nexus between digital economy and ecological footprint at a proportion of 85.2%, 31%, and 65.6%, respectively. From the findings of our study, significant policy implications are proposed to enhance environmental quality.

Empowering Forestry Management and Farmers’ Income Growth Through the Digital Economy—Empirical Evidence from Guizhou Province, China

Facilitating the sustained and stable growth of farmers’ income is crucial for achieving sustainable development in forest regions. As an emerging driving force, the digital economy has demonstrated substantial potential in enhancing farmers’ income and promoting regional economic prosperity in forest areas. Based on survey data from 1043 households across 10 counties in Guizhou Province, China, this study empirically examined the direct and indirect effects of digital economy participation on income growth among farmers in forest regions. The findings revealed that, first, participation in the digital economy significantly contributed to income growth for these households. This effect remained robust across various estimation methods, restricted sample tests, and when replacing dependent variables. Second, forestry management and its diversification played a mediating role in the relationship between digital economy participation and farmers’ income. Participation in the digital economy indirectly influenced income growth by fostering forestry management activities and their diversification. Third, the heterogeneity analysis indicated that digital economy participation had a significant positive impact on the income growth of pure farming households, part-time farming households, and households that had previously escaped poverty. This discovery underscored the unique role of the digital economy in alleviating poverty and preventing its recurrence. The conclusions of this study provide essential theoretical and practical guidance for empowering forestry development through the digital economy and advancing the digital transformation of the forestry industry. More critically, this research presents a novel pathway for the deep integration of the digital economy with forestry, jointly fostering income growth for farmers in forest regions, which holds significant implications for achieving rural sustainable development.

Official Turnover and Embodied Carbon Emissions: Evidence From Industrial Linkages in China's Prefecture‐Level Cities

ABSTRACTCarbon emission is the most critical environmental pollution issue today. However, regional trade and industrial linkages have changed the traditional carbon emission pattern. As a public product with strong negative externalities, carbon emissions inevitably lead to severe consequences if the market is allowed to adjust itself. Therefore, public policies made by government officials have an important role in environmental governance and emission reduction. This paper uses China's Multi‐regional Input‐Output (MRIO) table and official turnover data of 269 prefecture‐level cities in China for the empirical test. The results show that official turnover has a significant positive impact on embodied carbon emissions between regions. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the inter‐provincial turnover of officials and the turnover between regional central cities results in more significant embodied carbon emissions. Further research finds that the longer the officials stay in their previous positions or as new local government leaders, the greater the embodied carbon emissions caused by their turnover. In addition, the turnover of officials affects interregional embodied carbon emissions by promoting regional entrepreneurship, venture capital and structure transformation of industries. The findings of this paper provide essential enlightenment for optimizing Chinese local government governance and promoting the transformation of the economic development mode.