Digital transformation experiences in the Balkan countries

The current economic scenario is being characterized by the dawn of advanced digital technologies, such as the Internet of Things, Big Data, Business Analytics, Advanced Manufacturing, Industry 4.0/5.0, Cloud and Cyber-solutions and Artificial Intelligence, all of which represent a disruptive innovation that paves the way for radical changes in all activities by offering new innovative opportunities and solutions for thriving in a new competitive scenario. Consequently, a new paradigm has emerged, named “Digital Transformation” (DT), which highlights the sweeping changes that firms, organizations and society in general are undertaking to respond to digitization (Mariani & Wamba, 2020; Nambisan, 2017; Sjödin et al., 2020). Digital technologies are disruptive within organizations (both public and private) by way of enabling automation of data processing and timely and effective decision-making processes, as well as innovative ways to create value. Academics and practitioners alike have indicated a steadily growing interest toward analyzing and understanding the different and multifaceted dimensions, perspectives, sectors and dynamics that are intrinsic to DT (Nambisan et al., 2017; Ndou et al., 2021). It's worth noting that DT is a subject of considerable relevance for many different sectors, such as the tourism and health sector (Annosi et al., 2020; Ndou et al., 2022; Sikandar et al., 2022), as well as being pivotal in addressing social problems and in the improvement of the environmental sustainability; DTs impact the ways and mechanisms by which waste, pollution, production, and urbanism are managed and controlled (Feroz et al., 2021). Extensive studies report the unsettled impacts that DT has on business models and value creation (Ratten, 2014; Urbinati et al., 2018), for business practices and processes (Centobelli & Ndou, 2019; Guenzi & Habel, 2020; Hysa et al., 2020; Klein et al., 2020), product and service innovation, new customers and/or markets (Ferreira et al., 2017), capabilities and competencies to improve customer experience involvement in the innovation process (Nambisan et al., 2017) and business performance outcomes (Millán et al., 2021). DT is triggering a new competitive scenario and is part of a global race for innovation, skills, competencies, investment, and knowledge and research (OECD, 2020). However, leading successful DT is not an easy task because in some ways it challenges traditional linear approaches by which companies are faced with the new and iterative advances that are needed for the volatile digital economy (Li, 2020). The Covid-19 pandemic has caused an acceleration of digital technology adoption on a wider scale, forcing companies, customers, and society to make massive use of the technology. As a result, digital transformation is no longer simply an option but it is a competitive and innovative factor that is critical for public and private organizations, as well as for countries and regions. Also, the new post-pandemic recovery strategies consider digital transition as an essential component for hastening the transformation of economies (e.g. Next Generation EU, Recovery plan for Europe, EU, 2021). The purpose of this editorial paper is to provide an overview of the contributions that have been presented in the special issue titled “Industry 4.0 and digital transformation in the Balkan countries.” The special issue aims to extend and consolidate this emerging research area by mainly exploring how developing countries are dealing with digital transformation and how it impacts innovation and competitiveness. We have invited scholars to present their research that deals with the main emerging impacts and issues and impacts of new digital technologies within both the private sector (tourism, agri-food, health, to give examples etc) and the public sector; the role of digital technologies for research and education; the understanding of how DT can contribute to environmental and sustainable objectives as well as a general comprehension of the emerging issues around DT. Within this editorial we will present 4 papers that span from contributions related to the set of skills and capabilities that are necessary within for firms in order for them to be able to manage DTs up to Fintech approaches and experiences, digital transformation readiness of firms and eLearning experiences.