Aug 2026· South African Journal of Business Management· 0 citations· 69 references
TL;DR
The results show that Digital Intensity significantly and positively influences financial, environmental, and social performance (SP), highlighting its role as a primary driver of SME sustainability, and underline the need for prioritising investment in digital tools and skills.
Abstract
Purpose: This study examines the influence of digital transformation (DT) on the sustainable performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa. Digital transformation is gradually identified as a driver of competitiveness, allowing businesses to adjust to technological and market changes.
Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was used for the study, drawing responses from a sample size of 213 SME owners and managers in the City of Matlosana Municipality, South Africa. Respondents were identified through a random sampling method. Hypothesised relationships were examined using Structural Equation Modelling with Smart-Partial Least Squares as the analytical tool.
Findings/results: The results show that Digital Intensity significantly and positively influences financial, environmental, and social performance (SP), highlighting its role as a primary driver of SME sustainability. In contrast, Transformation Management Intensity shows no significant effects across these performance dimensions, suggesting that managerial effort without robust digital capabilities is insufficient to deliver measurable sustainability outcomes.
Practical implications: The study contributes to Resource-Based View by demonstrating that digital resources function as critical enablers of long-term competitiveness and sustainability in SMEs. For practice, these findings underline the need for prioritising investment in digital tools and skills. Policymakers and support agencies should consider targeted initiatives, including training, funding and infrastructure support, to address barriers that constrain SME DT.
Originality/value: The study offers empirical data from a developing market, integrating financial, environmental and SP into the examination of DT. It advances current debates by distinguishing between the roles of digital resources and managerial transformation efforts in shaping SME sustainability.
In an era where digital innovation is essential for enhancing service delivery and competitiveness, understanding how these technologies influence firm performance is both timely and critical. Thus, this study examined the effect of digital transformation on the performance of e-service businesses in West Africa. Digital transformation was viewed using two dimensions: Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption and cloud computing adoption. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted to collect quantitative data from 348 owners and managers of e-service businesses across Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and Sierra Leone using purposive sampling. Data were gathered through digitally administered structured questionnaires and analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS. The findings revealed that AI adoption had a positive and significant effect on the performance of e-service businesses, particularly in terms of service efficiency, customer experience, and decision-making processes. Similarly, cloud computing adoption demonstrated a positive and significant effect on organisational performance. These findings indicate that digital technologies are not merely supportive tools but strategic resources that enable firms to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the rapidly evolving West African digital economy. The study contributes to the growing literature on digital transformation by providing empirical evidence from e-service businesses across five West African countries, thereby extending existing studies that have largely focused on broader SME contexts.
H. Adeleye· European Conference on Innov...· 0 citations
This study addresses a critical paradox in rural micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), where the availability of digital technologies and financial resources does not necessarily translate into sustainable performance. Drawing upon the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Dynamic Capability Theory, this research examines how digital transformation and financial literacy influence sustainable performance through the mediating role of innovation capability. A quantitative approach is employed using data collected from 215 rural MSME owners in Indonesia. The analysis is conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), enabling the assessment of both direct and indirect relationships. The findings reveal that digital transformation and financial literacy significantly enhance innovation capability, which in turn exerts the strongest effect on sustainable performance. Moreover, innovation capability is confirmed as a significant mediating mechanism, indicating that the impact of resources is realized only when they are effectively transformed into capabilities. This study contributes to the literature by shifting the focus from mere resource ownership to capability transformation in explaining sustainable performance. Practically, the findings suggest that policies should integrate digital initiatives, financial education, and innovation support to enhance the sustainability of rural MSMEs.
Istianingsih Istianingsih, R. Suraji, Lintang Putri Estiarto· Proceedings of the Internati...· 0 citations
The findings indicate that e-commerce, cloud computing, customer relationship management, and digital marketing tools supported operational coordination, market reach, and customer engagement, but limited digital skills, implementation costs, cybersecurity risks, and infrastructure constraints restricted deeper adoption.
Sundeep Kumar, N. Kumar, Akash Singh· Journal of Global Entreprene...· 0 citations
The increasing pressure for sustainable business practices, combined with rapid digitalisation, is reshaping organisational strategies worldwide. This study investigates the impact of digital transformation on sustainable business practices, environmental sustainability, and business performance in the Albanian retail sector. A quantitative research approach was employed, using survey data collected from retail firms and analysed through reliability, correlation, regression, and moderation analyses. The findings indicate that digital transformation has a positive and statistically significant effect on sustainable business practices and environmental sustainability, while exerting its strongest influence on business performance. The results further reveal that support mechanisms, including training, financial assistance, and institutional support, significantly enhance the effectiveness of sustainable digital transformation. In contrast, organisational barriers, such as limited infrastructure and low levels of digital literacy, do not have a direct significant effect; however, their negative impact is mitigated by the presence of support mechanisms, confirming a moderating effect. These findings highlight the critical role of digital transformation as a driver of both sustainability and organisational performance. The study contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence from the context of an emerging economy and offers practical implications for managers and policymakers seeking to promote sustainable digital development.
Dorjana Feimi· Economics and Environment· 0 citations
This study examines the influence of digital transformation on organizational sustainability in Indonesia manufacturing industry and the role of mediating and moderating variables. This study examines digital transformation and organizational sustainability in the manufacturing industry, highlighting the role of green innovation as mediating variables. A quantitative approach was employed using a survey method, distributing questionnaires to managers of multinational manufacturing companies in the Riau Islands, Indonesia with sample size of 214 respondents. The results indicate that digital transformation has a significant positive effect between green innovation, and organizational sustainability performance. The mediating variables of green innovation strengthen the relationship between digital transformation and organizational sustainability. The practical implications of this study highlight the importance of digitalization strategy, green innovation in enhancing organizational sustainability. This study has limitations, including its limited geographic scope and sample size, the use of cross-sectional data that cannot capture temporal dynamics, and variables that do not cover all aspects of sustainability.
Yuswardi, Yolanda Masnita Siagian, H. Yusran et al.· International journal of res...· 0 citations
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
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