Industrial transformations, digital technologies, and competitiveness

a bibliometric analysis in the context of Industry 4.0

Abstract

This article maps and analyzes the evolution of scientific production linking Industry 4.0 to competitiveness through a longitudinal bibliometric study. After searching the Scopus database, the records were preprocessed and analyzed in SciMAT using keyword co-occurrence, an equivalence index for normalization, the Simple Centers algorithm for clustering, and strategic diagrams (centrality and density), as well as overlay and thematic evolution maps. The time span was segmented into four periods: 1999–2010, 2011–2015, 2016–2020, and 2021–2024. The results indicate that, in 1999–2010, the field was scattered with low connectivity; in 2011–2015, Industry 4.0 emerged as an organizing axis; in 2016–2020, the topic consolidated and intensified; and, in 2021–2024, it remained central but became more strongly articulated with digital technologies and competitiveness. As a contribution, the study organizes trends and gaps, guides research agendas, and supports managerial decision-making by showing how the literature has linked digital transformation to mechanisms of competitiveness. By synthesizing the thematic trajectory, the article reduces dispersion, identifies priority topics for future investigations, and provides a basis for decisions on adopting and evaluating digital projects.