Adoption of 4.0 technologies in MSMEs in the Caribbean: a multiple cases study

Abstract

By employing the qualitative methodology of multiple cases study, the adoption of 4.0 technologies in MSMEs in Puerto Rico is explored, in terms of the drivers, benefits, problems, and challenges of the incorporation processes. The findings reflect that MSMEs belong mostly to the regulated sector and agree that the adoption of technologies allows them interoperability, data analysis, projections, efficiency and effectiveness in real time and close and frequent linkage with customers. Participants of the study highlight their dependence on power energy system as well as its instability, as the biggest obstacles, in addition to the lack of capital, among others. The resilient infrastructure component (energy as well as technology) evidences the need for future research on the subject from a geospatial approach, which imparts originality to this study and determines its importance in the development of public policies and resilient business models.