Digitalization in wood and furniture companiesGoropečnik, Luka (Avtor) Remic, Katarina (Avtor) Jošt, Matej (Avtor) Oblak, Leon (Avtor) Bizjak Govedič, Teja (Avtor) Kropivšek, Jože (Avtor) industry 4.0manufacturing companieswood companiesfurniture companiesdigitalisationDue to rapid technological development and increasing digitalization, the business environment, also in the wood sector, is changing rapidly. The unique aspects of this sector, including the variability of raw materials, the nuances of production processes and fluctuating market dynamics, require customized digital solutions. This study, based on existing strategies, reports and literature, describes the current state of digitalization and the use of Industry 4.0 tools in the Slovenian wood and furniture industry. It also highlights some of the opportunities and challenges that the industry might face in digital transformation. Our findings show that the adoption of digital technologies is relatively low and that the size of a company strongly influences the degree of digitalization. The sector is dominated by smaller companies, which often have limited resources and may prioritize immediate operational needs over long-term strategic investments such as digitalization. Another major hurdle to digital transformation in wood and furniture companies, which have a relatively low-skilled workforce is human capital. Therefore, the success of the sector's digitalization will depend on a coherent government strategy and support for the adoption of digital technologies. Companies need to take a long-term approach, develop a tailored strategy that considers their unique context and capabilities, and focus not only on structures and processes, but also on people.20242024-06-14 07:20:45Drugo158478sl