Assessing digital maturity in the textile sector: An integrated MEREC and OCRA approach

Abstract

The digital transformation of the textile industry poses unique challenges due to its laborintensive processes, complex global supply chains, and coexistence of traditional methods and emerging technologies. Despite the urgency of this transition, existing digital maturity models lack sector-specific frameworks and often fail to integrate multi-criteria decisionmaking (MCDM) methodologies for quantitative performance assessment. This study addresses these gaps by proposing a novel digital maturity model tailored specifically to the textile sector. The research employs an integrated decision-making framework using the Method Based on the Removal Effects of Criteria (MEREC) to determine objective criterion weights and the Operational Competitiveness Rating Analysis (OCRA) method to rank firm-level digital maturity performance. The findings indicate that Strategy is the most influential dimension, whereas Technology receives the lowest weight. At the sub-criterion level, Management Support, Market Analysis, and Vision and Strategic Awareness are the most critical factors, while Technology Usage Competency is less influential. The performance evaluation shows that Company A3 achieves the highest level of digital maturity, whereas Company A2 ranks lowest. The robustness of the proposed framework is comprehensively validated through a scenario-based sensitivity analysis and a comparative evaluation using the Additive Ratio Assessment System (ARAS) method. Overall, the results suggest that successful digital transformation in the textile sector depends primarily on strategic vision and managerial support rather than on technological infrastructure alone.