Assimilation of Technologies vs. Technological maturity of industry 4.0: the case of the dairy processing sector in Poland

Abstract

The transition toward Industry 4.0 in the agri-food sector necessitates a nuanced understanding of how
digital technologies are assimilated within operational and strategic contexts. This study investigates
the relationship between technology assimilation and technological maturity in the dairy processing
industry - an often-overlooked yet critical segment of the food production value chain. Drawing on a
CATI survey of 68 Polish dairy manufacturing companies, we operationalized (5-point Likert scale)
assimilation and maturity through principal component analysis (PCA), identifying two core dimensions
of assimilation (integration and cybersecurity; digital competencies and data analytics) and four
dimensions of maturity (digital technologies and data use; process automation and sustainability; IT
flexibility; AI). The results reveal strong correlations between strategic integration of digital
transformation and maturity in process automation and sustainability, as well as between digital skills
and IT system adaptability. Notably, AI remains at an early adoption stage, reflecting infrastructural
and human capital constraints. Our findings underscore the need for aligned strategy, secure digital
environments, and workforce development, and support phased digitalization with targeted training and
infrastructure investment.