Prioritizing Key Factors Affecting Digital Maturity Assessment in the Railway Industry Based on Fuzzy Best-Worst Method

The railway transportation industry, as one of the vital transportation infrastructures, is experiencing a profound transformation towards digitalization and utilization of Industry 4.0 technologies. This research was conducted with the aim of prioritizing key factors affecting digital maturity assessment in the railway industry. In this study, first, through an expert panel including 15 specialists in the railway industry and Industry 4.0 technologies, eight main dimensions were identified including advanced Industry 4.0 technologies, cybersecurity and digital risk management, sustainability and environmental compatibility, practical applications and performance improvement, indigenous infrastructure and technical readiness, knowledge management and human capital development, digital economy and new business models, and digitalization challenges and obstacles. Then, using the Fuzzy Best-Worst Method, these dimensions and indicators related to each dimension were prioritized. The results showed that the advanced Industry 4.0 technologies dimension with a weight of 0.285 is in the first priority. In this dimension, the level of artificial intelligence utilization in operational processes with a weight of 0.312 was identified as the most important indicator. The calculated fuzzy consistency indices were less than 0.10, indicating the validity and reliability of the results. The findings of this research can be used as guidance for managers and policymakers in the railway industry in resource allocation and strategic planning for digital transformation.