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The current era of the fourth industrial revolution has attracted significant research on the use of digital technologies in improving construction project delivery. However, less emphasis has been placed on how these digital tools will influence the management of the construction workforce. To this end, using a review of existing works, this chapter explores the fourth industrial revolution and its associated technologies that can positively impact the management of the construction workforce when implemented. Also, the possible challenges that might truncate the successful deployment of digital technologies for effective workforce management were explored. The chapter submitted that implementing workforce management-specific digital platforms and other digital technologies designed for project delivery can aid effective workforce management within construction organisations. Technologies such as cloud computing, the Internet of Things, big data analytics, robotics and automation, and artificial intelligence, among others, offer significant benefits to the effective workforce management of construction organisations. However, several challenges, such as resistance to change due to fear of job loss, cost of investment in digital tools, organisational structure and culture, must be carefully considered as they might affect the successful use of digital tools and by extension, impact the success of workforce management in the organisations.

The change in the technological environment within the macro-environment factors in recent years affects states, businesses, societies and individuals and concerns not only technology-based sectors but also many fields. In particular, trends such as artificial intelligence, metaverse, robotics, advanced connectivity, the Internet of Things, big data, small data, blockchain, cloud technologies and reality technologies, which are called new technology, are developing very quickly compared to the past and expanding their global usage areas. Creating strategies and policies without considering these factors creates problems in many areas. These problems are marketing, competition, cost, efficiency and productivity.

Reality technologies, which are the research area in this chapter and enable users to interact with the digital world, have a wide application area in the tourism industry. With technological tools such as smartphones and virtual reality (VR) glasses; personalisation, interactive experience, information gathering and decision-making; many different solutions are produced in areas such as education, service and security. Along with its many advantages, the disadvantages of reality technologies and the negative outputs of this transformation are significant for the understanding and future of the subject.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is perceived as an evolving trend in the tourism industry, with the potential to change its dynamics. IoT will help destinations, airlines, hotels and cruises personalise their services for tourists and guests. Moreover, it has several advantages for them, such as cost savings, increased productivity, greater efficiency and customised and differentiated services. The readers of this chapter will learn about the trends of IoT in the tourism industry, discover its benefits and learn about the most critical applications.

Purpose: The main aim is to explore and recognize productive ways to create human-centred designs (HCDs) for employee experience (EX). HCD is a concept that prioritizes the needs, preferences, and behaviours of humans using the product or service. EX refers to all interactions an employee has with their employment lifespan – from recruitment to retirement. By taking the HCD approach to EX design, companies can create a work environment tailored to their employees’ needs and preferences.

Design / Methodology: The explorative research design to apply journey maps. By mapping out the employee journey, designers can identify pain points and areas for improvement.

Findings: The findings highlight that artificial intelligence and robotics are core components of designing HCD and can be applied to EX design. By prioritizing EX, companies can attract and retain top talent, increase employee engagement and productivity, and gain a competitive advantage.

Research Limitations: The study is developing and involves detailed insights from different companies, making it difficult and time-consuming to prepare a comprehensive report.

Practical Implications: The findings of the study will add value to other organizations to follow and develop policies and practices that make the employees cherish their work.

Originality: The chapter’s originality lies in providing a comprehensive understanding of HCD and EX. It emphasizes leveraging the strengths of both humans and bots for enhanced workforce experience and business growth. Exploring future automation and technology integration trends adds depth to the chapter’s contribution.

The gastronomy industry is one of the industries in which consumers use technology most frequently, such as robotics, artificial intelligence and automation systems. Service robots are generally defined as online programs that can act independently or under the control of a human that can carry human characteristics such as speaking, understanding and acting. This study aims to examine and evaluate the studies on service robots in the gastronomy industry regarding quantity or quality, to understand the phenomenon more comprehensively, and to determine a holistic perspective. To this end, a qualitative research approach was adopted. Document technique was used to collect data within a systematic literature review framework, and the data were analysed by descriptive analysis. According to the findings, the papers on service robots in the gastronomy industry are still in their infancy, and these studies have increasingly gained speed in the last five years.

Purpose: The research determines how the COVID-19 pandemic affected India’s burgeoning education technology sector and how the new normal responded to this advancement worldwide.

Need for Study: India’s education sector saw a boom in Ed-Tech funding during the pandemic. The Indian Education industry adopted technology as a partner and succeeded in being called as the Ed-Tech capital of the world. The country has a strategic edge in online education that, if explored and researched upon, can be deployed for market growth at a global level.

Research Methodology: The researcher prioritised rigorous original quantitative and qualitative methods of investigation on technology applications in educational contexts during COVID-19 pandemic and drew its conclusions after conducting a comprehensive literature review and collecting and analysing the data from numerous journals and published expert articles on the sector.

Findings: The study found that despite the global pandemic, the Ed-Tech industry was an expanding marketplace for start-ups in India. After the pandemic, the market expanded rapidly, and by 2025, it is expected to have quadrupled in size, expenditure, and investment. It is expected that the global e-learning business, which the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has bolstered, will grow to over 400 billion US dollars by 2026.

Practical Implications: The study sets forth the various Ed-Tech categories, outlining their user bases, growth projections, and the innovative technologies employed in developing these products. The research’s long-term investment projections are envisioned to aid consultants in positioning themselves for profitable operations in the era of digital Ed-Tech disruption worldwide.

Service robots present a new frontier in the provision of services, with far-reaching implications for customers and managers alike. The purpose of this chapter is to examine how service robots impact service providers' current marketing strategies. For this, the authors perform an integrative, nonsystematic review of international gray and academic literature to understand how both practitioners and academics perceive the impacts of the technology. Based on this analysis, the present work identifies three key themes that emerge from the current state of practitioner and academic research, namely (1) service robots demand new core business capabilities and competencies, (2) service robots offer new value propositions, and (3) service robots impact not only service providers' cost structures but also revenue streams. These insights are combined into the Service Robot Innovation Canvas, a visual tool for service providers to identify the impact of service robot implementations on a company's marketing strategy. In addition, based on the analyzed literature, the most pressing questions for researchers are laid out in a research agenda.

Customer experience is increasingly recognized as a source of competitive advantage. Customer experience refers to customers' responses and reactions to cues within touchpoints along customer journeys. Nowadays, customers often interact with online touchpoints – such as social media, websites, or e-commerce – in their customer journeys. Given that customer experience is multidimensional, this chapter addresses the following question: How can sensorial experiences be triggered in online touchpoints? Based on a review of the literature on customer experience and sensory marketing, four challenges in triggering sensorial experiences in online touchpoints are identified: (1) limited sensorial cues, (2) lack of thematic congruence between online and offline touchpoints, (3) sensory overload, and (4) lesser control over sensorial cues. Then, two routes through which organizations can trigger sensorial experiences in online touchpoints are proposed: (1) directly influencing sensations through sensory-enabling technologies, and (2) indirectly influencing sensorial perceptions through the use of sensory and nonsensory cues. The chapter closes with a presentation of a model that describes the process of triggering sensorial experiences in online touchpoints as well as a checklist of relevant questions for practitioners who wish to do so.

Voice command and voice search are becoming increasingly popular in the hospitality and tourism industry, with many hotels and travel companies investing in voice-enabled technology to improve guest experiences and streamline operations. This technology allows travellers to manage their travel plans, request services and get information through natural voice commands on any voice-enabled device. Voice assistants are also multilingual, allowing hotels to customise responses to guests who do not speak the local language. Angie, a multilingual, in-room voice assistant, is an example of this technology. It can fulfil guest requests, answer common questions about the property and create streamlined access to a wide range of hotel amenities, such as ordering room service or requesting extra towels. Hotels can control questions and responses to assist stretched staff and provide upsell and advertising revenue through digital promotions or recommended onsite amenities or discounts. In addition, voice command technology can be used to book travel and find things to do at a destination. Google Assistant can help with travel plans like booking a hotel, checking flight status and finding things to do at a destination. In conclusion, voice command and voice search technology are transforming the hospitality and tourism industry by improving guest experiences, reducing operational costs and increasing revenue.