Assessing Industry 4.0 adoption impact on healthcare performance using SEM-NCA with mediators: usefulness, ease of...

This study aims to investigate the impact of Industry 4.0 technology adoption on organizational performance in the healthcare sector, with a specific focus on the mediating roles of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, emotional trust and actual use. Grounded in the technology acceptance model (TAM), the research further explores how these mediators influence the relationship between technology adoption and performance outcomes.

A mixed-method research approach was adopted, integrating structural equation modeling (SEM) and necessary condition analysis (NCA). SEM was employed to assess the direct and indirect (mediated) effects between variables, while NCA identified the necessary conditions required to achieve improved organizational performance. Data were collected from key stakeholders in the healthcare industry through a structured questionnaire.

The results highlight the pivotal mediating roles of perceived usefulness and emotional trust in enhancing the relationship between Industry 4.0 adoption and organizational performance. Emotional trust and actual usage emerged as critical factors, indicating that both cognitive and affective dimensions significantly influence successful technology integration. The study also reveals that certain conditions, particularly related to trust and usability, are necessary (though not sufficient on their own) for achieving optimal performance outcomes.

The findings provide actionable insights for healthcare managers and policymakers on how to improve technology implementation strategies. Emphasis should be placed on fostering emotional trust and user engagement alongside ensuring technological effectiveness. By addressing these mediators, healthcare institutions can more effectively leverage Industry 4.0 technologies to enhance organizational performance.

This study offers a novel contribution by combining TAM with a mixed-method SEM-NCA approach to examine Industry 4.0 adoption in the healthcare supply chain. Unlike prior research, it underscores the necessity of emotional trust and actual use as core drivers of performance, providing both theoretical enrichment and practical guidance for successful technology assimilation in complex organizational settings.