Barriers and drivers of industry 4.0 adoption: insights from a bibliometric analysis

Purpose This study aims to map the intellectual landscape of research on the barriers and drivers influencing Industry 4.0 (I4.0) adoption. By combining bibliometric and systematic review methods, it identifies the main contributors, research clusters and thematic trends shaping this rapidly evolving field. The goal is to uncover knowledge gaps, evaluate global collaboration patterns and clarify how technological, organizational and contextual factors affect the successful implementation of I4.0 across industries and countries. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive bibliometric and systematic review was conducted using 291 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2016 and 2025, retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses protocol guided data selection and Bibliometrix (R) software was used for quantitative analysis. The study examined publication trends, citation patterns, co-authorship networks and thematic clusters through co-word analysis to map the structure and evolution of the research field on I4.0 adoption barriers and drivers. Findings Results reveal a fast-growing research field with an annual growth rate of 61.78%, yet characterized by fragmented collaboration networks and isolated research clusters. Six categories of barriers and five of drivers were identified, covering financial, infrastructural, organizational, human and external dimensions. Thematic analysis yielded four research clusters – foundations of industrial transition, enabling technologies, management and digital transformation and adoption behavior – positioned across motor, basic, niche and emerging themes. A shift from theoretical to applied studies was also observed. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to English-language, peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, possibly omitting relevant conference papers, reports or non-English studies. While bibliometric analysis enables large-scale mapping, it lacks qualitative depth into specific contexts. Future research should integrate additional databases, explore small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and emerging economies and investigate behavioral and socio-technical factors to strengthen theoretical integration and foster international collaboration in the I4.0 adoption discourse. Practical implications The findings provide decision-makers and policymakers with a structured overview of the critical barriers and enablers of I4.0 adoption. Understanding financial, organizational and human-capital challenges helps firms design targeted digital transformation strategies. The identified drivers guide management toward leveraging technological readiness, collaborative networks and supportive regulatory environments. Policymakers can use these insights to develop more coherent industrial policies and capacity-building initiatives to facilitate the diffusion and integration of Industry 4.0 technologies. Social implications Industry 4.0 adoption influences employment structures, skill requirements and national competitiveness. Addressing human-capital gaps and promoting digital education can mitigate risks of workforce exclusion. Strengthening collaboration networks and ethical governance frameworks fosters inclusive, sustainable industrial transformation. The study highlights how aligning technological innovation with social and environmental objectives can ensure that digitalization supports long-term societal resilience and equitable economic growth in both developed and emerging contexts. Originality/value This paper provides the first integrated bibliometric and systematic mapping of barriers and drivers to I4.0 adoption, offering a comprehensive synthesis of ten years of research. By categorizing 52 barriers and 42 drivers, it bridges fragmented knowledge and identifies key thematic areas, leading contributors and research gaps. The four-cluster thematic framework advances theoretical and empirical understanding of digital transformation and offers a valuable foundation for future studies aiming to enhance global Industry 4.0 readiness and collaboration.