The overarching research purpose of this study is to explore the industrial transformation process in a developing country, like Colombia, and to confront it with the fourth industrial revolution now evolving in first world countries. On the basis of that, making a macro and micro economic analysis of the situation - regarding the readiness of the country as a whole; the main driving forces, opportunities and barriers for the MSMEs within the industry of the country; and the challenges for the government to make the country a viable environment for the development of technology - this purpose emerges from the needs of the countries and companies to stay competitive in the national and international market, while obtaining substantial improvements in terms of quality, productivity, efficiency, price of the product, waste reduction, times of production, etc.