Industrial Digitalization: Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

This article reviews the state of the art, implementation barriers, and emerging trends in industrial digitalization, drawing on studies published between 2020 and July 2025. It analyzes how classical Industry 4.0 technologies, simulation and modeling, and Industry 5.0 priorities are transforming production processes in smart factories, yielding higher productivity, reduced downtime, and improved quality. At the same time, the literature documents persistent obstacles, including system integration and interoperability, security and data-privacy risk, and financial constraints, especially for SMEs. Looking ahead, future directions point to a gradual shift towards sustainable intelligent manufacturing with human–robot collaboration and data-centric operations. In addition, the article proposes and validates a conceptual framework for the digitalization of manufacturing companies and provides practical recommendations for stakeholders seeking to leverage digital technologies for operational excellence and sustainable value creation.