Emerging technologies and internationalization: Insights from Italian companies approaching Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 technologies are supposed to increase the competitiveness of companies, leading to a new era of “Manufacturing Renaissance”. Nowadays, contemporary dynamics of international competition impose that companies both innovate and internationalize at the same time to remain competitive. In this context, some conceptual studies have speculated on possible consequences of the adoption of technologies related to Industry 4.0 on global value chains. However, empirical studies investigating the role of emerging technologies in international business are still lacking. Through a multiple case study approach, this study presents an exploratory qualitative research investigating the impact of Industry 4.0 technologies on the international strategy of companies. The analysis of 9 Italian manufacturing exporting companies that have adopted these technologies reveals some preliminary findings and opens avenues for future research in international business on these issues.