Challenges for the business model of a network of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in the era of industry 4.0

After three industrial revolutions, the fourth has come, transferring production to sophisticated networks of companies equipped with intelligent devices, machines, and means of transport, communicating with each other using modern technologies. It creates new challenges for industrial companies; it requires existing business models to be redefined. The development of the Industry 4.0 concept forces modern companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to quickly and flexibly adapt to the changing demand conditions. This is reflected in the creation of new business models, ones that allow for the introduction of innovations, the rapid reorganization of processes, and very flexible adaptation of enterprises to the conditions of a changing environment. The aim of the article is to present the concept of a business model assuming the creation of a network of small and medium-sized enterprises that are able to generate added value for their clients in the era of Industry 4.0