Jul 2026· Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence· Vol 20, pp. 5801 - 5809· 0 citations· 15 references
Abstract
Abstract Digitalisation has emerged as a primary catalyst for economic structural change, fundamentally altering production logic, market dynamics, and consumer patterns. Central to this shift is the rapid expansion of electronic commerce, which, while driving growth, necessitates a critical re-evaluation of resource efficiency and environmental sustainability. Consequently, the intersection of digital adoption, e-commerce, and circular economy principles is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of sustainable development. While current literature generally acknowledges that digital tools and e-commerce boost productivity and innovation, these elements are frequently analyzed in isolation. Empirical evidence detailing their interdependencies remains scarce—particularly at the regional level within Central European economies. This study addresses this gap by examining the relationships between e-commerce indicators, circular economy practices, and economic growth across the Visegrad Group. Utilizing secondary data from official statistical sources (2013–2023), the research employs correlation analysis to test these linkages. The findings reveal statistically significant and robust positive correlations between all three dimensions across the V4 countries. Such results suggest that e-commerce does more than just enhance market performance; it actively reinforces circular economic processes. By providing this empirical grounding, the paper offers new insights into how digitalisation and sustainability agendas converge, serving as a resource for policymakers and researchers focused on the V4 region’s sustainable trajectory.
The digitalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is not just a technological trend, but also a strategic path towards sustainable economic development. This study provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of SMEs digitalisation across the EU-27 during the post-pandemic period (2019–2025). The originality of this study stems from its comprehensive comparative analysis by integrating dynamic, cluster, concentration, and regression analyses, it provides updated evidence on the relationship between e-commerce adoption, enterprise turnover, and economic development, while highlighting cross-country disparities and convergence trends within the European Union. The results confirm a positive association between the adoption of e-commerce practices and enterprise economic performance, underlining the contribution of digitalisation to broader development objectives. The study provides relevant insights for policymakers seeking to strengthen digital ecosystems and support SMEs competitiveness, as well as for business managers aiming to leverage digital technologies as a source of growth and resilience. As the analysis is based on aggregated country-level data and the correlational methods, the findings should be interpreted as evidence of statistical associations rather than causal relationships and should not be directly extrapolated to individual SMEs.
A. Bălăcescu, M. Zaharia, Olivia-Roxana Alecsoiu et al.· Journal of Theoretical and A...· 0 citations
The rapid ascent of e-commerce has revolutionized global labor and economic structures, offering unparalleled convenience while manifesting critical sustainability challenges. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the environmental, social, and economic implications of digital retail, synthesizing current peer-reviewed research to evaluate its holistic impact. Key findings identify significant hurdles in the environmental footprint of logistics, packaging, and data centers; however, the research asserts that optimized supply chains hold the potential to decrease energy consumption and urban congestion (Schultz, 2025; Reinartz et al., 2019). From a social perspective, the paper examines shifts in consumer behavior and labor rights, while the economic analysis explores the e-commerce paradigm's effect on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and market structures (Burt & Sparks, 2003). The study concludes that sustainable outcomes can only be achieved through an integrated framework that interweaves the three pillars of sustainability—environmental, social, and economic—using digital innovations like the SEER rating system to bridge the "attitude-behavior gap" (Islam et al., 2023; Escursell et al., 2021). Furthermore, it provides strategic direction for industry executives, policymakers, and consumers, charting a definitive map toward a resilient and equitable future in the digital retail landscape.
Devansh Vikram Singh, Malvika Maru· International journal of bus...· 0 citations
The rise of emerging markets in the digital age represents a structural reordering of the global economic landscape rather than a peripheral catching-up story. This paper examines the rapid digital transformation under way in these markets and analyses how technological advances — mobile internet, financial technology, e-commerce and multi-sided digital platforms — have simultaneously empowered firms and consumers. Drawing on an integrative review of scholarly literature and a synthesis of secondary evidence from the World Bank Global Findex, the GSMA, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and national payment authorities, the paper argues that emerging economies are not merely adopting technologies developed elsewhere but are generating institutionally distinctive models of digital growth. Four drivers are identified: mobile-first connectivity, the mobile money and fintech revolution, platform-mediated commerce, and state-sponsored digital public infrastructure. Comparative evidence from India, Kenya, Brazil, Indonesia and Nigeria demonstrates that leapfrogging is real but conditional: it occurs where affordable connectivity, interoperable payment rails and permissive-yet-supervised regulation coincide. The paper also documents the constraints on this transformation. Although 96 per cent of the world’s population lives within mobile broadband coverage, some 3.1 billion people who could connect do not, producing a usage gap driven by device cost, digital literacy, gender norms and locally irrelevant content. Data protection regimes remain uneven, platform concentration raises questions about where digital value is captured, and the emerging artificial intelligence divide threatens to reproduce old asymmetries in a new form. The paper contributes a Digital Leapfrogging Readiness framework organised around four interdependent conditions — infrastructural, institutional, capability and content conditions — and derives five strategic imperatives for firms competing in these markets. It concludes that the developmental promise of emerging-market digitalisation depends less on the pace of technology adoption than on the quality of the governance arrangements built around it.
Deesha Sarmah· International journal of res...· 0 citations
The growth of e-commerce has reshaped how people participate in the economy, interact online, and develop their communities in both developed and emerging economies. However, studies on the social and developmental impacts of digital commerce remain fragmented across disciplines, regions, and conceptual traditions. This study examines two interconnected research streams: e-commerce and social capital, and e-commerce and community development, by synthesizing bibliometric data on global scholarship from 2001 to 2025.
The data were collected from Scopus and Web of Science, yielding 546 publications. To explore the conceptual organization and thematic evolution of the field, multiple bibliometric methods, including keyword co-occurrence analysis, thematic mapping, citation analysis, temporal trend analysis, and multiple correspondence analysis, were used.
The results indicate that e-commerce is no longer seen as a tool for transactions but as a sociotechnical ecosystem of digitally mediated participation, trust, economic empowerment, and community change. The literature on e-commerce and social capital is primarily organized around themes of online trust, digital interaction, and social participation in e-commerce. In contrast, the literature on e-commerce and community development is organized by themes of sustainability, entrepreneurship, digital inclusion, and local economic resilience. The study also finds significant geographical variation in existing research on digital commerce in China, with less work on digitally marginalized areas and underserved communities, particularly in rural digital transformation and platform-based entrepreneurship. The study further demonstrates that e-commerce has the potential to boost bridging social capital by creating digital networks and external markets, but also to transform localized forms of bonding social capital that are traditionally associated with face-to-face interaction and community cohesion.
The study contributes by integrating fragmented scholarship into a multidimensional sociotechnical framework linking e-commerce, social capital, digital inclusion, sustainability, and policy support. It has implications for inclusive digital growth and sustainability-oriented community development, particularly regarding equitable participation, resilient local economies, and sustainable consumption practices.
Ashifa Kariveliparambil, Annamária Csiszér, Jobi Babu et al.· Frontiers in Sustainability· 0 citations
Digital transformation is now one of the key engines of entrepreneurial behavior and company development, but there is still a lack of empirical evidence on the creation of digital ecosystems, especially in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region. This paper examines how digital capabilities affect the sustainable development of entrepreneurial ventures and how the relationship changes depending on the three emerging digital ecosystems of Lebanon, Iraq, and Egypt. Data were collected through a structured online questionnaire developed using Google Forms and distributed via email, WhatsApp, and the Prolific research platform to owners, managers, and key decision-makers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed, yielding 131 responses, of which 22 were excluded after screening for completeness and eligibility. The final analytical sample comprised 109 valid firm-level responses from Egypt (n = 51), Lebanon (n = 34), and Iraq (n = 24). The study quantitatively assesses digital capabilities on several dimensions, including digital infrastructure adoption, data and analytics capabilities, digital product development, and digital revenue integration, and attributes those capabilities to sustainable business growth indicators (the revenue stability, scalability, profitability, and long-term resilience). The results showed that more robust digital capabilities have more significant impacts on sustainable business growth outcomes, whereas basic digitalization has no significant effect. Further, the analysis found no statistically significant moderating effect of ecosystem contextual factors, including institutional quality and digital maturity, on the relationship between digital capabilities and sustainable business growth across Lebanon, Iraq, and Egypt. This study contributes to the body of knowledge of entrepreneurship and sustainability in emerging markets by integrating Resource-Based View, Dynamic Capabilities Theory, and Digital Ecosystem Theory. The findings have practical implications for entrepreneurs and policymakers who aim to use digital transformation to attain sustainable entrepreneurship in the vulnerable and dynamic digital ecosystems.
C. Hajj, Hady El Samra, Nancy Saliba et al.· Sustainability· 0 citations
This study examines the essential role of innovative approaches in enhancing business sustainability, focusing on how technology and digital transformation can manage growing data volumes, reduce energy consumption, and improve organisational performance. As digital technologies rapidly evolve, companies must adapt their policies and practices, often facing an adaptation crisis that requires social and institutional changes. Effective management of digital transformation calls for new corporate policies and structuring. Research indicates that many organisations struggle with digital transformation due to a lack of awareness of their current digital capabilities and unclear guidelines for adopting new technologies. Using the Network Readiness Index (NRI), this study assesses firms' readiness to leverage digital technologies across various dimensions, including technology, human resources, governance, and impact. The result of regression analysis emphasises the prominent effect of the people factor on technology. Through semi-structured interviews, a comparative analysis with index scores reveals that while digitalisation is seen as a cost-saving tool, its adoption varies widely across sectors. To address potential negative impacts of digitalisation on employee well-being, the study recommends policies to monitor screen time, encourage offline activities, and design ergonomic digital workspaces. By promoting healthier digital practices, organisations can improve employee well-being and effectively use digital tools, ultimately enhancing competitiveness in a dynamic landscape.
Dilek Şahin Yomralıoğlu, Beyza Toksoy· Istanbul Journal of Economic...· 0 citations