Knowledge management in the digital age: A systematic review of fourth industrial revolution technologies and sustainable transformation

Abstract

Background: Sustainable digital transformation requires more than technological adoption; it depends on strategic knowledge management (KM). Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain and big data have reshaped organisational knowledge creation, sharing and application. However, the mediating role of KM between digital capability and sustainability outcomes remains insufficiently integrated in the literature.
Objectives: This review examines how KM supports sustainable digital transformation, how 4IR technologies influence KM processes, and which barriers and enablers shape knowledge-sharing ecosystems. It also develops a conceptual framework grounded in the knowledge-based view and dynamic capabilities theories to explain how KM converts digital capability into sustainable organisational performance.
Method: A systematic literature review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. Peer-reviewed publications from 2015 to 2024 were retrieved from IEEE Xplore, Scopus, SpringerLink, Web of Science and the ACM Digital Library. Selected studies were screened and thematically analysed.
Results: Five themes emerged: KM and Industry 4.0, Digital Transformation and KM, Strategic KM Frameworks, Challenges in KM Implementation, and General KM Insights. The findings of this study indicate that KM enhances innovation, organisational agility and sustainability when aligned with 4IR technologies. Cultural, infrastructural and knowledge-security barriers remain significant constraints.
Conclusion: Knowledge management is central to sustainable digital transformation. Organisations must adopt adaptive and technology-aligned KM strategies to achieve long-term value.
Contribution: The study synthesises dominant research themes and proposes an integrative framework positioning KM as the mediating mechanism through which 4IR technologies generate sustainable organisational outcomes.