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The smart circular economy (SCE) refers to the systematic use of advanced digital technologies to operationalize one or more circular R strategies, such as reduce, repair, reuse, and remanufacture, across the product life cycle. While the existing SCE literature is expanding, it remains largely conceptually driven and predominantly theoretical, with limited empirical grounding in industrial contexts. This study addresses this gap by empirically conceptualizing and characterizing SCE through five use cases drawn from diverse manufacturing and service-related industries. Data were collected through site visits, semi-structured interviews, and workshops with five companies. The use cases were systematically analyzed using analytical dimensions such as context, circularity objective, digital enablers, stakeholders' value creation, and sustainability impact. These dimensions helped to structure and operationalize the SCE concept across heterogeneous industrial contexts. Cross-case analysis reveals five recurring categories of challenges influencing the feasibility of SCE implementation: technological integration and data management; product recovery and collection; design and product complexity; market acceptance and user adoption; and economic viability and scalability. The study contributes to the literature on SCE by providing an empirically grounded conceptualization and proposing replicable analytical dimensions that support manufacturing companies in exploring, comparing, and selecting suitable SCE business use case opportunities.