Industry 4.0 as an opportunity for small and medium enterprises to join the digital transition

Joining the Fourth Industrial Revolution is possible and necessary for all companies-large, medium and small; because it means more productivity, less costs and increased efficiency in the processes and final results. In addition, it is vital to improving the working and social welfare conditions of workers. If you want to be competitive in the immediate future, the key is to join in the era of digital transformation. At the beginning of the document, the reader will be introduced to the concept of Industry 4.0, then, will be taken through a background of each industrial revolution, extracting the main opportunities that at the moment were taken for the enterprises which decided to join the transition. Once arrived in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the main pillars and fundaments of this new era will be described, along with its advantages/disadvantages, problematics and challenges. Two big companies from different markets will be analyzed to explore and understand the opportunities this new era brings for those SMEs who are willing to join the transition aiming to achieve competitive advantage over its competitors. Afterward, two innovative Italian startups that have introduced pioneers products to the market applying in new ways some of the main pillars of the Industry 4.0 will be described and the reader will be able to link the opportunities these two companies are aiming to get from the digital transformation the worldwide industry is now facing.