What are the key technical, organizational and environmental factors that drive successful adoption of IoT in Industry?

Details

Supervisors

Belleflamme, Paul

Faculty

Louvain School of Management

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur de gestion, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

enThis thesis investigates the key technological, organizational, and environmental fac-tors that drive successful IoT adoption in industrial (especially manufacturing) set-tings, using the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework. It com-bines a literature review with expert interviews to test hypotheses about how readi-ness in each domain (technological infrastructure, cybersecurity, interoperability; leadership, skills, resources; regulation, competition, support infrastructure) affects IoT implementation and operational efficiency. The analysis finds that robust techno-logical and organizational readiness strongly enable IoT success, whereas the broader external environment, while supportive (via standards, market pressure, and regulatory clarity), primarily plays an enabling rather than determining role. Expert interviews confirm and enrich these findings, providing real-world validation of the literature’s insights on the importance of internal readiness. For managers, these results imply that aligning digital strategy with IoT deployment requires prioritizing internal capabilities, such as upgrading infrastructure, strengthening cybersecurity, and building IoT skills, while leveraging a supportive external context. In manufactur-ing contexts, focus on organizational readiness and technology foundations will be critical to achieving the promised efficiency gains.