Abstract:

It is clear that technologies such as the internet of things, cloud technology, additive manufacturing and artificial intelligence, as well as digitalization, make a great contribution to today's industrial sector, as well as offer a serious increase in productivity. Developments related to digitalization in the sector seriously affect SMEs. In this context, the research deals with the existing digital transformation situation of SMEs operating in the manufacturing (machinery) industry in Izmir in the direction of after-sales services. Thus, it is aimed to examine the digitalization applications for SMEs in the manufacturing industry and to contribute to the deficiency in the literature regarding its use in after-sales service. The research is a qualitative study and its design is a case study. Semi-structured in-depth interview technique was used as a data collection tool. The data obtained as a result of the interviews were analyzed with the content analysis technique. While interpreting the data, themes were identified and categories were created for each theme. As a result of the study, it was determined that the digital applications used in the afer-sales service departments of SMEs benefited the competitiveness and cost advantage, and the service application with remote access was used extensively in the sector.

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