Influence of Digital Transformation Strategies on Competitive Advantage of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES) in Emerging Economies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47672/ijbs.2885Keywords:
Digital Transformation Strategies, Competitive Advantage, Emerging EconomiesAbstract
Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of digital transformation strategies on competitive advantage of small and medium enterprises (SMES) in emerging economies.
Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
Findings: The findings reveal that digital transformation strategies, such as the adoption of AI, cloud computing, and digital marketing, significantly enhance the competitive advantage of SMEs in emerging economies by improving operational efficiency and market reach. SMEs that embrace digital tools experience increased innovation capability, cost efficiency, and customer engagement. Overall, digital transformation helps SMEs expand their market share and maintain a competitive edge in dynamic business environments.
Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: The resource-based view (RBV) theory, dynamic capabilities theory & the technology-organization-environment (TOE) may be used to anchor future studies on assessing the influence of digital transformation strategies on competitive advantage of small and medium enterprises (SMES) in emerging economies. SME owners and managers should invest in capacity building and digital skills development to ensure effective adoption and utilization of digital tools. From a policy perspective, governments and regulatory bodies in emerging economies should develop supportive frameworks that promote digital transformation among SMEs.
Downloads
References
Al-Sharafi, M. A., Iranmanesh, M., Al-Emran, M., Alzahrani, A. I., Herzallah, F., & Jamil, N. (2023). Determinants of cloud computing integration and its impact on sustainable performance in SMEs: An empirical investigation using the SEM-ANN approach. Heliyon, 9(5), e16299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16299
Berbatovci, I., & Buja, S. (2024). Impact of digital marketing on the growth of SME manufacturing businesses in Kosovo. Asian Economic and Financial Review, 14(7), 527–544. https://doi.org/10.55493/5002.v14i7.5131
Clemente-Almendros, J. A., Díaz Pelaez, A., Chura Quispe, G., & Velarde Molina, J. F. (2025). Emerging countries could be different for MSMES: Digitalization and the mediation effects of innovation confronted to environmental practices. International Journal of Innovation Studies, 9(4), 354–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijis.2025.08.001
Farida, I., & Setiawan, D. (2022). Business strategies and competitive advantage: The role of performance and innovation. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 8(3), 163. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc8030163
Insee, K. (2023). R&D spending, competitive advantage, and firm performance. Cogent Business & Management. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2225831
Kraus, S., Schiavone, F., Pluzhnikova, A., & Invernizzi, A. C. (2021). Digital transformation in SMEs: A systematic literature review. Journal of Business Research, 123, 557–567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.10.013
Nege, T. B., & Kero, C. A. (2024). Competitive strategy orientation and market orientation for product innovative success in SMEs. Science Journal of Business and Management, 12(3), 47–63. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjbm.20241203.11
Nuvriasari, A. (2024). Competitive advantage based on marketing innovation. Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences.
Qiao, P., Chang, M., & Zeng, Y. (2024). The influence of digitalization on SMEs’ OFDI in emerging countries. Journal of Business Research, 177, 114633. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114633
Rubio-Andrés, M., et al. (2024). Business strategy and market performance in SMEs. Journal of Small Business Economics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-024-00947-9
Shehadeh, M., Almohtaseb, A., Aldehayyat, J., & Abu-AlSondos, I. A. (2023). Digital transformation and competitive advantage in the service sector: A moderated-mediation model. Sustainability, 15(3), 2077. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032077
Thomran, M., et al. (2022). The key enablers of competitive advantage formation in SMEs. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114365
Valdez-Juárez, L. E., Ramos-Escobar, E. A., Hernández-Ponce, O. E., & Ruiz-Zamora, J. A. (2024). Digital transformation and innovation, dynamic capabilities to strengthen the financial performance of Mexican SMEs: A sustainable approach. Cogent Business & Management, 11(1), 2318635. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2318635
Van Hoang, D., Duy, H. A., Thuy, D. T., Giang, D. T., Chau, V. N. M., Ngoc, N. L. M., & Quynh, V. H. (2025). Digital capabilities and competitive advantage in the context of technological uncertainty: Evidence from emerging market SMEs. International Journal of Innovation Management, 29(3–4). https://doi.org/10.1142/S1363919625500185
Verhoef, P. C., Broekhuizen, T., Bart, Y., Bhattacharya, A., Dong, J. Q., Fabian, N., & Haenlein, M. (2021). Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda. Journal of Business Research, 122, 889–901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.09.022
Vial, G. (2019). Understanding digital transformation: A review and a research agenda. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 28(2), 118–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2019.01.003
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Sonia Gandhi

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.