Digital Work Instructions for Work Integration Social Enterprises: Results From a Mixed Methods Study in Flanders

ABSTRACT Digital work instructions (DWIs) are increasingly used in mainstream manufacturing and assembly settings to support task execution, training and process adaptability. However, their implementation in work integration social enterprises (WISEs) has received limited scholarly attention. Drawing on a mixed‐methods research project in Flanders, Belgium, this article examines the factors influencing DWI adoption in WISEs and the effects organisations report in relation to their use. The analysis considers barriers, motives, government support, organisational characteristics and perceived economic, social, environmental and negative effects. The study combines a targeted literature review, semi‐structured interviews, participatory evaluation and a survey of 41 WISEs. The findings suggest that DWIs are associated with perceived improvements in operational efficiency, training processes and worker autonomy, while implementation challenges include upfront costs, integration issues and the effort required to design and maintain effective instructions. Adopters and non‐adopters also differed in how they perceived the benefits, barriers and risks associated with DWIs. The article contributes to research on digital transformation in inclusive work settings by examining DWI adoption in a context that remains underexplored in the literature, and it offers practical insights for managers and policymakers involved in WISE digitalisation.