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The purpose of this paper is to understand the applications of metaverse-related technologies in US urban libraries, explore excellent cases of US urban libraries' practices in using metaverse-related technologies to serve patrons and try to find the factor that may affect the application of metaverse-related technologies in libraries at this stage.

To gather information about how and whether libraries use metaverse-related technologies such as three-dimensional (3D) technology, radio frequency identification (RFID), virtual reality augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) in their services. Firstly, the authors visit 150 US urban library websites that are members of the Urban Libraries Council. Secondly, the authors calculate the proportion of services provided by urban libraries that use metaverse-related technologies and introduce outstanding cases. Lastly, the authors discuss the factors that influence the application of metaverse-related technologies in urban libraries in the United States based on data published by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Metaverse-related technologies have been widely used in US urban libraries, but there are differences in the popularity of the applications of different technologies. In all, 84% of libraries use 3D technology, mainly in 3D printing services and 3D model building services; 76% of libraries use virtual and augmented reality technologies in their services, mainly concentrated in head-mounted VR device experiences, AR device experiences, virtual tours and virtual exhibitions; 62% of libraries use Internet of things (IoT) technology, mainly in self-checkout machines and book location services. However, AI technologies are less used in libraries, with 28% of libraries mentioning the applications of AI in their services, mainly focusing on intelligent search, virtual assistants and robot librarians. In addition, this study finds that library operating expenditures and population served do not affect the application of metaverse-related technologies in libraries.

This paper provides updated statistical data on the use of metaverse-related technologies in US urban libraries and aims to help library managers understand the overall applications and best practices. With this as an inspiration, they could formulate corresponding development plans to better serve their communities with metaverse-related technologies.

This research conducts bibliometric analyses and network mapping on smart libraries worldwide. It examines publication profiles, identifies the most cited publications and preferred sources and considers the cooperation of the authors, organizations and countries worldwide. The research also highlights keyword trends and clusters and finds new developments and emerging trends from the co-cited references network.

A total of 264 records with 1,200 citations were extracted from the Web of Science database from 2003 to 2021. The trends in the smart library were analyzed and visualized using BibExcel, VOSviewer, Biblioshiny and CiteSpace.

The People’s Republic of China had the most publications (119), the most citations (374), the highest H-index (12) and the highest total link strength (TLS = 25). Wuhan University had the highest H-index (6). Chiu, Dickson K. W. (H-index = 4, TLS = 22) and Lo, Patrick (H-index = 4, TLS = 21) from the University of Hong Kong had the highest H-indices and were the most cooperative authors. Library Hi Tech was the most preferred journal. “Mobile library” was the most frequently used keyword. “Mobile context” was the largest cluster on the research front.

This study helps librarians, scientists and funders understand smart library trends.

There are several studies and solid background research on smart libraries. However, to the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first to conduct bibliometric analyses and network mapping on smart libraries around the globe.

Studies showed that construction digitalisation could prevent or mitigate accidents rate on sites. Digitalisation applications may prevent or mitigate building project collapse (BPC) but with some encumbrances, especially in developing countries. There is a paucity of research on digital technologies application to prevent or mitigate BPC in Nigeria. Thus, the research aims to explore the perceived barriers that may hinder digital technologies from preventing or mitigating building collapse and recommend measures to improve technology applications during development.

The study is exploratory because of the unexplored approach. The researchers collected data from knowledgeable participants in digitalisation and building collapse in Nigeria. The research employed a phenomenology approach and analysed collected data via a thematic approach. The study achieved saturation at the 29th interviewee.

Findings show that lax construction digitalisation implementation, absence of regulatory framework, lax policy, unsafe fieldworkers' behaviours, absence of basic infrastructure, government attitude, hesitation to implement and high technology budget, especially in developing countries, are threats to curbing building collapse menace via digitalisation. The study identified technologies relevant to preventing or mitigating building collapse. Also, it proffered measures to prevent or mitigate building collapse via improved digital technology applications during development.

This research contributes to the construction digitalisation literature, especially in developing countries, and investigates the perceived barriers that may hinder digital technologies usage in preventing or mitigating building collapse in Nigeria.

This paper aims to recommend a method entitled “lean process mining (LPM)” for mapping, analyzing and improving the material/information flows in the value stream of manufacturing processes.

The method is developed based on literature review and in-depth explorative research in value stream mapping and process mining approaches. The proposed LPM framework consists of three phases including as-realized process state, improvement strategies and reengineered process state. Hence, firstly, extracts the as-realized model, measures the identified wastes and identifies the sources of wastes. Secondly, implements prediction-recommendation-prevention strategies. Thirdly, reengineers the process model and measures the improved wastes.

It presents the applicability of the proposed approach in (1) online observation of manufacturing process behavior and tracing the process deviations dynamically in real time to identify the sources of waste; (2) avoiding defective products occurring during the production and eliminating the relevant derived wastes including wasted material, wasted energy, waste of labor, excess inventory, increased production lead time and wasted operational costs.

The practical application of LPM is illustrated through implementing it in a real-life manufacturing case. The outcomes prove the remarkable applicability of this method in lean manufacturing to avoid waste occurrence in the value stream.

Process mining (PM) has emerged as a leading technology for gaining data-based insights into organizations’ business processes. As processes increasingly cross-organizational boundaries, firms need to conduct PM jointly with multiple organizations to optimize their operations. However, current knowledge on cross-organizational process mining (coPM) is widely dispersed. Therefore, we synthesize current knowledge on coPM, identify challenges and enablers of coPM, and build a socio-technical framework and agenda for future research.

We conducted a literature review of 66 articles and summarized the findings according to the framework for Information Technology (IT)-enabled inter-organizational coordination (IOC) and the refined PM framework. The former states that within inter-organizational relationships, uncertainty sources determine information processing needs and coordination mechanisms determine information processing capabilities, while the fit between needs and capabilities determines the relationships’ performance. The latter distinguishes three categories of PM activities: cartography, auditing and navigation.

Past literature focused on coPM techniques, for example, algorithms for ensuring privacy and PM for cartography. Future research should focus on socio-technical aspects and follow four steps: First, determine uncertainty sources within coPM. Second, design, develop and evaluate coordination mechanisms. Third, investigate how the mechanisms assist with handling uncertainty. Fourth, analyze the impact on coPM performance. In addition, we present 18 challenges (e.g. integrating distributed data) and 9 enablers (e.g. aligning different strategies) for coPM application.

This is the first article to systematically investigate the status quo of coPM research and lay out a socio-technical research agenda building upon the well-established framework for IT-enabled IOC.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how different manufacturing technologies are bundled together and how these bundles influence operations performance and, indirectly, business performance. With the emergence of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies, manufacturing companies can use a wide variety of advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT) to build an efficient and effective production system. Nevertheless, the literature offers little guidance on how these technologies, including novel I4.0 technologies, should be combined in practice and how these combinations might have a different impact on performance.

Using a survey study of 165 manufacturing plants from 11 different countries, we use factor analysis to empirically derive three distinct manufacturing technology bundles and structural equation modeling to quantify their relationship with operations and business performance.

Our findings support an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary perspective. I4.0 technologies build on traditional manufacturing technologies and do not constitute a separate direction that would point towards a fundamental digital transformation of companies within our sample. Performance effects are rather weak: out of the three technology bundles identified, only “automation and robotization” have a positive influence on cost efficiency, while “base technologies” and “data-enabled technologies” do not offer a competitive advantage, neither in terms of cost nor in terms of differentiation. Furthermore, while the business performance impact is positive, it is quite weak, suggesting that financial returns on technology investments might require longer time periods.

Relying on a complementarity approach, our research offers a novel perspective on technology implementation in the I4.0 era by investigating novel and traditional manufacturing technologies together.

This paper aims to explore factors influencing suppliers' acceptance, integration challenges, expected benefits and support from customers when implementing a customer-introduced digital supply chain system.

The study investigates the perspective of suppliers using a mixed methodology approach that combines qualitative interviews with a large-scale quantitative survey conducted among 220 internationally located suppliers of an automotive-industrial firm.

As a result, the authors identified 11 factors that drive suppliers' acceptance of customer-introduced digital supply chain systems. These factors have been ranked based on their importance. The top three important factors identified were the digital system being provided at no cost to the suppliers, the system's ability to save time and the system offering benefits to the suppliers.

Further research can be conducted to validate the perspective of suppliers in other industries. Additionally, future studies can investigate the effectiveness of fulfilling these acceptance factors within an actual digital integration setup.

Companies can leverage these insights to accelerate their digital supply chain integration efforts. The insights on acceptance factors, challenges, benefits and support expected by suppliers can serve as a valuable guide for policy and decision makers within the industry.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to investigate the perspective of suppliers in the integration of a customer's digital supply chain. By including the supplier's perspective, this study makes a significant contribution to the academic literature about supply chain digitalisation.

In recent years, the emergence of Industry 4.0 technologies as a way of increasing productivity has attracted the attention of the manufacturing industry. This study aims to investigate the relationship between Industry 4.0 technologies and lean tools (LTs) by measuring how the internalisation of LTs influences the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies and how the synergy between them helps improve productivity in European manufacturing firms.

Results from 1,298 responses were used to analyse linear regression and study the correlation between the use of LTs and Industry 4.0 technologies.

Results show that the companies analysed tend to implement more Industry 4.0 technologies when their level of lean internalisation is high.

This study provides useful information for managers of manufacturing firms by showing the correlation between LT internalisation and Industry 4.0 technologies, corroborating that optimal implementation of these technologies is preceded by a high level of LT internalisation. Furthermore, although there are studies showing the relationship between LTs and Industry 4.0 technologies, none consider the intensity of their implementation.

The tourism industry is undergoing a metamorphosis as an outcome of the integration of new technologies, which has an impact on products, business experiences, ecosystems and tourism complexes. As a result, to adjust to these changes, the sector needs to develop new business alliances, models and skill sets. Emerging technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics are set to bring in a new chapter in the history of travel experiences. Deepening global linkages, optimising operating efficiency, and transforming visitor experiences are all being brought about by these advancements. The report also evaluates the wider effects of this digital revolution, such as the levelling of access to travel information, the introduction of fresh business strategies and the crucial role of cyber security. With practical advice drawn from empirical research, real-world case studies and industry expert interviews, this study prepares businesses and travel destinations for success in the digital age. ‘From Pixels to Paradise’ is an indispensable tool for all those involved in the travel and tourism sector, helping them navigate the digital environment and take advantage of the opportunities brought about by the convergence of travel and technology. This study tries to map out a route towards a more sustainable, engaging and technologically improved tourism experience against the backdrop of significant industry changes.

This paper aims to design the digital transformation model for university libraries based on the Delphi method using the Iranian public university libraries as the study case.

A qualitative approach and the Delphi method were used to conduct the current research. In total, 15 experts in the field of digital transformation of libraries were selected through targeted and snowball sampling. They were asked to complete and finalize items identified from previous research to design a digital transformation model for public university libraries in Iran during successive Delphi rounds. The Delphi method was completed after the third round, upon reaching a favorable consensus.

The findings obtained from the research led to the presentation of the model in 7 main dimensions, 25 concepts and 139 components. Meanwhile, the concept of “data-centered” and changing the concept of “optimal reorganization of library resources” to the concept of “acquisitions and optimal reorganization of library resources” are among the new achievements of this research. In addition, the components of “promoting data-oriented thinking in the decision-making of library managers,” “encouraging employees to use and analyze data” and “planning to increase the digital literacy of librarians” were added to the concept of “data-oriented”; the components of “having knowledge of digital collection and its rules for the correct identification and evaluation of resources,” “familiarity with digital metadata standards and data transfer standards” and “familiarity with open access platforms” were added to the concept of “librarian knowledge competencies”; and the components of “planning, coordination,” “monitoring and evaluating the progress of library digital transformation projects” and “collaboration and networking with other academic library managers” in the concept of “library manager’s management skills”; the components of “identification of new digital formats and resources,” “creation, preparation and accessibility of game scientific content and free in the library,” “updating the resource organization policy with new organization concepts and rules” and “updating the library collection development policy based on the information needs of users” were added to the concept of “acquisitions and optimal reorganization of library resources” and “Web 2.0 technologies” component were added to the concept of “use of digital technologies in the library.”

This study is limited to Iranian public university libraries, and the findings may not be directly transferable to other contexts. In addition, the Delphi method, while effective for expert consensus, relies on subjective opinions and may not fully capture the complexities of digital transformation. Future research could explore the implementation challenges of the proposed model and its long-term impact on library services and user satisfaction. Despite these limitations, the study offers a valuable foundation for digital transformation initiatives in Iranian university libraries and can inform policy decisions and resource allocation.

The proposed digital transformation model offers practical guidance for Iranian university libraries. By implementing the model, libraries can enhance their services through data-driven decision-making, improved resource management and the adoption of new technologies. Librarians can develop the necessary digital competencies to effectively manage digital collections and engage with users. In addition, the model emphasizes the importance of collaboration among library managers, fostering knowledge sharing and best practices. Ultimately, the practical application of this model can lead to more efficient, user-centered and innovative library services.

The proposed digital transformation model for Iranian university libraries holds significant social implications. By enhancing access to information and resources, it can democratize knowledge and foster innovation. Increased digital literacy among librarians will equip them to better serve diverse user communities. However, equitable access to digital services must be ensured to prevent the widening of the digital divide. The model’s focus on data-driven decision-making can improve resource allocation and user satisfaction. By promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing, libraries can become more central to their communities and contribute to regional development. Ultimately, the success of this model depends on addressing potential challenges such as privacy concerns, digital security and the need for ongoing training and support.

The proposed model, with its 7 main dimensions, 25 concepts and 139 components, provides a roadmap for enhancing library services, resource management and decision-making. By emphasizing data-centered approaches, promoting digital literacy among librarians and integrating Web 2.0 technologies, libraries can adapt to the evolving needs of users. Collaboration and networking with other academic library managers can foster knowledge exchange and collective problem-solving. By implementing the proposed model, libraries can adapt to changing user needs, enhance services and contribute to the academic community’s success. However, implementing this model requires addressing challenges related to equity, privacy and accessibility, ensuring that all users benefit from the digital transformation. Overall, this research serves as a valuable resource for university library managers, guiding them toward effective digital adaptation and improved user experiences.