Enhancing customer satisfaction through IIoT-Enabled coopetition: Strategic insights and impacts

This research investigates the significant role of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to enable Coopetition Network Practices (CNPs) in enhancing the performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within the context of global digital supply chains. Employing a quantitative approach, our study reveals that CNPs contribute to a noTable 51.0 % improvement in factors determining customer satisfaction. This underscores the strategic importance of blending competition with collaboration to refine production processes and align with consumer expectations. Additionally, the research presents a remarkable 69.1 % boost in operational consistency and reports substantial progress in manufacturing flexibility and the value-to-weight ratio, witnessing increases of 125.8 % and 33.2 %, respectively. These improvements are pivotal in optimizing production resources, which in turn, have led to a 29.3 % decrease in customer complaints and a 15.6 % rise in on-time delivery rates. Conversely, a slight decline in the consistency of the value-to-weight ratio was observed, pointing to potential areas for future research. The findings decisively show that CNPs offer concrete advantages by enhancing customer satisfaction determinants and operational efficiency in SMEs. The paper advocates for future studies to directly measure customer satisfaction and to formulate actionable guidelines for the effective implementation of coopetition strategies. This proposed research direction aims to provide solutions to the manufacturing sector's emerging challenges, thereby promoting competitive advantage and growth in the digital era.