Evaluating sustainable cloud computing service providers in Industry 4.0: an enhanced Russell directional distance method

The purpose of this work is to provide an advanced business analytics approach to address assessment and selection issues pertaining to sustainable cloud computing service providers using a real-world case study. To do this, it is required to propose a framework for assessing sustainable cloud service providers (CSPs) in Industry 4.0, one of the key sectors with regard to practical applications. First, in the case of an output trade-off, we provide an enhanced Russell measure directional distance function (ERMDDF) model. The weak disposability concept is then included in the suggested model in light of the undesirable outputs. The created model is also further expanded to accommodate integer data in the efficiency calculation issue of sustainable CSPs. The study’s findings demonstrate that the developed model possesses the capability to aid customers in selecting the most suitable CSP from a multitude of options. Additionally, it enables a more accurate estimation of CSP efficiency based on sustainability criteria.