DOI: 10.32725/978-80-7694-102-1.19
Inproforum 2024 (vol. 18):136-140 | DOI: 10.32725/978-80-7694-102-1.19
Impact of digitalisation on the competitiveness of SMEs in Slovakia
- University of Economics in Bratislava, Faculty of Business Management, Dolnozemská cesta 1/b, 852 35 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
This paper examines the impact of digitalization on the competitiveness of small and medium-sizedenterprises (SMEs) in Slovakia. In a rapidly changing business landscape, SMEs face many challenges and opportunities brought about by technological advances. The study analyses how digital transformation affects key competitiveness factors such as operational efficiency, market access, innovation capabilities and customer engagement. The data was collected through available stastistic data, providing insights into the current adoption of digital technologies and the barriers that businesses face in effectively using these tools. The findings suggest that SMEs which are using digital solutions show increased productivity, better market adaptability and improved customer satisfaction, which contribute significantly to their competitiveness. Nevertheless, challenges such as limited financial resources, lack of digital skills and inadequate infrastructure persist and hinder the wider adoption of these solutions. The paper concludes with recommendations for policy makers and business support organisations on how to create the conditions to foster digital growth, which is key to increasing the resilience and global competitiveness of Slovak SMEs.
Keywords: digitalisation, competitiveness, SMEs
Published: January 11, 2025 Show citation
References
- Bharadwaj, A., El Sawy, O. A., Pavlou, P. A., & Venkatraman, N. (2013). Digital Business Strategy: Toward a Next Generation of Insights. MIS Quarterly, 37(2), 471-482. doi: 10.25300/MISQ/2013/37.
Go to original source... - Bresciani, S., Ferraris, A., & Del Giudice, M. (2018). The Role of Digitalization in Business Internationalization. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 3(3), 115-120. doi: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.02.003.
Go to original source... - Grenčíková, A., Kordoą, M., & Berkovič, V. (2020). The impact of industry 4.0 on jobs creation within the small and medium-sized enterprises and family businesses in Slovakia. Administrative sciences, 10(3), 71. doi: 10.3390/admsci10030071.
Go to original source... - Kádárová, J., Lachvajderová, L., & Sukopová, D. (2023). Impact of digitalization on SME performance of the EU27: Panel data analysis. Sustainability, 15(13), 9973. doi: 10.3390/su15139973.
Go to original source... - Kane, G. C., Palmer, D., Phillips, A. N., Kiron, D., & Buckley, N. (2015). Strategy, Not Technology, Drives Digital Transformation. MIT Sloan Management Review, 14. doi: 10.1225/RTD0519.
Go to original source... - Li, L., Su, F., Zhang, W., & Mao, J. Y. (2018). Digital Transformation by SME Entrepreneurs: A Capability Perspective. Information Systems Journal, 28(6), 1129-1157. doi: 10.1111/isj.12153.
Go to original source... - Matt, C., Hess, T., & Benlian, A. (2015). Digital Transformation Strategies. Business & Information SystemsEngineering, 57(5), 339-343. doi: 10.1007/s12599-015-0401-5.
Go to original source... - McKinsey & Company. (2020). How COVID-19 Has Pushed Companies over the Technology Tipping Point-and Transformed Business Forever. doi: 10.3390/sci5030028.
Go to original source... - Nambisan, S., Lyytinen, K., Majchrzak, A., & Song, M. (2017). Digital Innovation Management: Reinventing Innovation Management Research in a Digital World. MIS Quarterly, 41(1), 223-238. doi: 10.25300/MISQ/2017/41:1.03.
Go to original source... - Porter, M. E., & Heppelmann, J. E. (2015). How Smart, Connected Products Are Transforming Companies. Harvard Business Review, 93(10), 96-114.
- Sebastian, I. M., Ross, J. W., Beath, C., Mocker, M., Moloney, K. G., & Fonstad, N. O. (2017). How Big Old Companies Navigate Digital Transformation. MIS Quarterly Executive, vol. 16(3). doi: 10.1017/S0030826900616648
Go to original source... - Teece, D. J. (2018). Business Models and Dynamic Capabilities. Long Range Planning, 51(1), 40-49. doi: 10.1016/j.lrp.2017.06.007.
Go to original source... - 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. doi: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.09.022.
Go to original source... - Vial, G. (2019). Understanding Digital Transformation: A Review and a Research Agenda. Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 28(2), 118-144. doi: 10.1016/j.jsis.2024.101853.
Go to original source... - Wessel, M., Thies, F., & Benlian, A. (2020). Opening the Floodgates: The Implications of Increasing Platform Openness in the Sharing Economy. Journal of Management Information Systems, 37(1), 118-143. doi: 10.1057/s41265-017-0040-z.file:///C:/Users/Lenovo/Downloads/SK_country_report_dGHtuRCQNAAet0dv9vchl6g4_98633.pdfhttps://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/country-reports-digital-decade-report-2023
Go to original source...


