Industrial revolution 4.0 in industrial laundries and their information technologies landscape

University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Department of Finance and Accounting, Univerzitní 8, 30100, Pilsen, Czech Republic

^* Corresponding author: polivkam@kfu.zcu.cz

Abstract

This paper presents the research results in the field of implementation of fourth industrial revolution technologies into the service sector, with a specific focus on the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies into corporate processes of industrial laundries. The theme covered was found topical following the analysis of practical needs and based on the specific nature of industrial laundry processes and only marginal interest paid in professional theory and discussions to the possibility and efficiency of the Industry 4.0 technologies implementation into non-production companies. Based on the analysis and evaluation of secondary data, advanced Industry 4.0 technologies have been identified which might lead to the increase of industrial laundries efficiency. Further, the methods of monitoring, structured interview and case study have been combined to design the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies into the system of existing information and communication technologies and systems. Based on a quality comparison, the case study and structured interview results have proven the benefits of implementation of automated identification and data collection technologies including the implementation of vertical integration of corporate information system and horizontal integration leading to the interconnection with customers in industrial laundries corporate processes.