The implementation of digital technologies in South African fast moving consumer goods factories

Abstract

The advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has seen the implementation of digitaltechnologies, or digitalisation, spread across several different industries on a massive globalscale. As technologies improve, the applications for their uses can be expanded into differentindustrial sectors, and more specifically manufacturing. This study focuses on theimplementation of digital technologies in South African fast moving consumer goods(FMCG) factories and what enables and deters their successful rollout. A thematic, qualitativeanalysis of the data, obtained from conducting semi-structured interviews with participantswithin the industry, allowed for ten unique enablers and deterrents to be identified. TheTechnology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework was utilised to categorise thesefactors into relevant categories. The study was also able to establish a baseline for currentlyinstalled digital technologies in these firms, and what future technologies would be the mostbeneficial to the industry. In South Africa prohibitive costs, socioeconomic issues and a lackof infrastructure deter the implementation of digital technologies, while operational benefits,top management drive and global competitiveness drive digitalisation. A strategic roadmapwas also created to allow firms to better leverage their time and resources during theimplementation stages of digitalisation