Experiences of Companies in Using Smart City Technologies

Abstract

Theoretical background: Smart cities rely on advanced technologies such as ICT, IoT, AI, and ML to streamline urban operations and foster sustainable growth. Successful implementation, however, hinges not only on technology but also on how businesses adopt and integrate these innovations. Companies play a critical role in driving technological adoption within smart cities, enhancing urban services, and contributing to economic growth.Purpose of the article: The objective of this paper is to obtain insights into the experiences of companies in the utilization of smart city technologies. The paper explores companies' active use, challenges in adoption, and potential for increased engagement with these technologies.Research methods: The authors conducted a pilot survey in 2021, targeting companies in Szczecin and Koszalin, Poland. Using CATI and CAWI techniques, data were collected from 221 companies through a structured questionnaire. The Chi-square test was applied to examine the relationships between variables. The study focused on ten types of smart city technologies and classified company responses into three categories: active use, non-use, and future intent to adopt.Main findings: The study revealed varying levels of technology adoption across companies. Popular technologies like intelligent payment systems and e-government services saw high adoption rates, while applications for environmental protection and security-related technologies were less utilized. The findings indicate that local business strategies, stakeholder engagement, and investment levels significantly influence adoption rates. Companies in both cities expressed a growing interest in future adoption, especially in smart infrastructure technologies, suggesting potential growth in their usage