Critical success factors for implementing a smart IoT-based decision framework in the water industry

ABSTRACT The decentralized nature of information and the widespread use of mobile devices for accessing content make the water sector an excellent platform for using the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm to streamline procedures, benchmark standards, and create a sustainable environment. Smart devices play an essential role in deploying digital solutions through IoT. They help connect the physical world with the digital universe and are regarded as fundamental entities within a network-integrated through IoT. The study provides a better understanding to assess the critical success factors (CSFs) for smart device implementation in the water sector. The factors are obtained from the literature and shortlisted with the help of experts using the Delphi method. Kappa statistics are used to further validate the experts' consensus. The significant factors identified were leadership, usability, cost of implementation, technology awareness, data privacy, interoperability and community partnership. Mental modeler software has been used to construct a fuzzy logic cognitive mapping of CSFs to represent causal reasoning in diagraphs. Scenario analysis was conducted for each CSF. The study provides recommendations for policymakers to develop precise strategies for integrating IoT in the water industry.