Barriers to digital transformation in industrial, transport and logistics enterprises: empirical evidence from Kazakhstan

Abstract

Paper addresses the problem of systemic barriers to digital transformation, in logistics flows and supply chain management, which hinder the integration of digital technologies into material, information, and financial flows. The aim of the study is to empirically identify and analyze these barriers in industrial, transport, and logistics enterprises in Kazakhstan. The novelty of the research lies in specifying how barriers manifest in a transition economy and in demonstrating their impact on logistics flows and supply chain management. The empirical foundation of the research is a questionnaire survey conducted among 57 enterprises in the real sector of the economy, including industry, transport and logistics, construction, and information and communication technologies. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and interpreted within the broader context of industrial paradigm evolution, from Industry 4.0 toward the human‑centric and sustainable Industry 5.0 model. The empirical material of the study reflects the cross‑sectoral nature of digital transformation, encompassing production, logistics, management, and information processes within end‑to‑end digital ecosystems, as revealed through the survey of 57 enterprises in diverse industries. The results indicate that enterprise‑level digitalization is still confined mainly to basic automation and fragmented adoption of digital tools, whereas integrated and intelligent solutions remain scarce and underdeveloped. Key barriers to digitalization emerge at the intersection of economic constraints, human capital limitations, organizational‑managerial weaknesses, and technological challenges. The most prominent constraints include the high cost of digital solutions, persistent shortages of digital competencies among personnel, and insufficient strategic understanding of the potential benefits of digitalization.