The COVID-19 pandemic strengthens the use of digital services in the supply chains of manufacturers and suppliers in the automotive industry. Furthermore, the digitalization of the production process changed how manufacturing firms manage their value chains in the era of Industry 4.0. The automotive sector represents the ecosystem with rapid digital transformation, which provides a strong relationship between manufacturing firms in supply chains. However, there are many gaps in understanding how digital technologies and services could better shape relations between manufacturers and suppliers in the automotive industry. Accordingly, this study investigates the relations in deliveries of digital services in supply chains of the automotive industry. The data set was obtained through annual reports of the automotive firms, both from suppliers and manufacturers, between 2018 and 2020. From the network perspective, throughout the years, authors have used Social Network Analysis (SNA) method. SNA evaluates the relationship between actors (i.e., manufacturers and suppliers) in the use of services in their business models. The research results demonstrate how suppliers influence car manufacturers to deliver digital services to their customers. Finally, this study provides information that the combination of digital technologies with product-related services enables a stronger relationship between manufacturers and suppliers in the manufacturing ecosystem. These relations support the manufacturing ecosystem to survive the influence of different environments.

Manufacturing firms engage in various innovation activities to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. Although technological innovation is considered one of the key performance drivers, organizational innovation has become increasingly prominent. This study analyzes the relationship between organizational and technological innovation and examines their effect on firm performance in the manufacturing context. The empirical evidence is based on the European Manufacturing Survey (EMS)—Serbian data set gathered in 2018. Hypotheses on the relationship between organizational and technological innovations and firm performance are tested by structural equation modeling using data from 240 Serbian manufacturing firms. The results have shown that technological concepts strongly mediate the impact of organizational factors on firm performance (return on sales—ROS). Moreover, it could be said that, in contrast to the individual approach, to foster a ROS, a synergic effect of organizational and technological concepts is needed, implying the need for an integrative perspective in the process of innovation.

The aim of this paper is to analyze renewable energy sources (primarily untapped biomass potentials) in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina in the Republic of Serbia, which, when used for energy purposes, could significantly reduce energy dependence on fossil fuels. The idea of using biomass in Vojvodina emerged about ten years ago, but it is estimated that currently only 5% of total biomass potential, the most significant source of renewable energy in the region, is being used. This paper re-emphasizes the idea of focusing Vojvodina’s energy policy on its own energy resources, which are readily available and renewable, but each year is either burned in the fields or left to rot. The paper will outline the total potential of raw materials, the form in which they are found, and the possible means of utilizing them. It will also provide an overview of energy in Vojvodina with a particular focus on the portion of renewable sources as a neglected potential within overall energy consumption. In addition to energy potential, this paper also points to the benefits for heating and the environment that would be created through increased use of biomass in the process of energy production.