A METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE FORMATION OF AN ECO-ORIENTED MECHANISM OF INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF A TRANSPORT COMPANY

Abstract

The article is devoted to a comprehensive study of the transformation processes affecting the conceptual and categorical apparatus of innovation management within the context of the total digitalization of the transport industry. The author argues that under the influence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), the traditional theoretical framework, which was established during the industrial era, is rapidly losing its relevance and requires systematic adaptation to new digital and ecological realities. The research identifies that the large-scale integration of the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain  technologies, and Big Data into logistics operations fundamentally changes the nature of innovation activity, shifting the strategic focus from the management of physical objects and infrastructure to the management of complex information flows. Furthermore, the study highlights the critical importance of the “Digital Twin” concept in supply chain management, where traditional static planning is superseded by modern dynamic modeling in real-time. Special emphasis is placed on the changing role of the logistics operator, which is no longer perceived as just a physical carrier of goods but as a central data integrator within a unified digital logistics space. The research identifies four distinct stages of management transformation: from the initial digitalization of products and services to the achievement of powerful network effects through platform scaling and ecosystem engagement. The study also integrates an eco-oriented perspective, highlighting that digital transformation is inextricably linked to the “green” transition. The author introduces and substantiates such categories as “innovative environmental protection activity” and “systemic-analytical ecological risk management,” which form the basis of a new methodological approach to the sustainable development of transport companies. The findings prove that the transformation of the categorical apparatus is not merely a linguistic or terminological update, but a fundamental paradigm shift towards data-driven management and environmental responsibility.