Digital Transformation in SMEs: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: The swift advancement of technology has made digital transformation essential for firms to sustain competitiveness and ensure long-term survival, particularly for SMEs that are integral to many economies. Although identifying essential components in a particular area of interest is valuable, bibliometric analyses in the domain of SMEs digital transformation are limited.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to identify research trends, highly cited publications, key authors, and major thematic areas in the field of SMEs' digital transformation through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis.

Methods: This paper provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 1,204 scholarly publications on SMEs' digital transformation from 2014 to 2024, utilizing the Scopus database and visualized through VOS viewer.

Results: Findings indicate that academic interest has increased significantly since 2014, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. China, Italy and Indonesia are the most influential nations in this area of research. European and Malaysian institutions possess a substantial volume of publications and exhibit a wide array of academic impact. The subject distribution highlights the multidisciplinary nature of this topic. However, co-authorship network indicates that collaboration within researchers is inadequate, which reflects the fragmented nature of research in this field, thus additional advancement is necessary. Müller, Matarazzo, Coreynen, Cenamor, Eller, Priyono, Bouwman Myovella, Nasiri, Sommer are the top 10 most influential scholars in digital transformation of SMEs. Digital technologies, digital capabilities, economic business model, social-economic sustainability and Industry 4.0 are the five main themes in this field.

Conclusions: This paper presents a thematic map that delineates the primary antecedents and effects of digital transformation in small and medium-sized enterprises.  This research also synthesizes critical trends and insights, providing a foundational overview to inform future advancements in the rapidly evolving digital transformation landscape for SMEs.