Abstract
Industry 4.0 is currently a hot topic for practitioners and academia. However, as the concept originates in manifestos by government-sponsored initiatives or companies, a widelyaccepted academic definition is still lacking with significant uncertainties and ambiguities concerning country-, industry- and size-specific factors. In this paper – through a systematic literature review – we categorize current definitions and provide the scientific and managerial communities with an analytical perspective to navigate the current ambiguity. We conclude by proposing some directions for research to shedding light on the phenomenon, although a rigorous definition of Industry 4.0 is neither possible nor needed at this point in time.