Digital transformation as a strategy to reach sustainability

Abstract

PurposeThis paper aims to summarize previous research findings on the mutual relation between digital transformation and sustainability at a firm-level. Up to date, there is a gap in the literature linking both concepts and a generalized call for more studies.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a systematic literature review of 89 published studies. After detailed content analysis filters, the authors used 75. The authors present the results following the “Six W” guidelines for systematic literature reviews.FindingsFindings reveal that it is possible to suggest a research framework that considers digital transformation as a driver and a predecessor of sustainability. To survive the digital revolution, companies need to enhance their digital capabilities and balance their economic, environmental and social impacts.Research limitations/implicationsThe precision of the equation used to search manuscripts might have excluded some critical studies that analyze both topics with different connotations beyond merely “Digital transformation” and “Sustainability.” Moreover, the heterogeneity of the findings makes it difficult to classify the findings in a specific context.Originality/valueThe present paper serves as a base to understand the implications of digital transformation on sustainable development for businesses and societies.

Digital transformation: A meta-review and guidelines for future research

“…This phenomenon is probably explained by the maturity of the topic, making it possible to analyze the existing literature with some relevance. In particular, we can see that published studies have mainly focused on business model strategies [ 45 – 49 ], digital business [ 48 , 50 , 51 ], the use of disruptive technologies [ 47 , [52] , [53] , [54] ], sustainability [ 55 , 56 ], human resources [ 57 – 59 ], and smart cities [ 45 ]. In turn, Fig.…”

Do Creators of New Markets Meet SDGs? Analysis of Platform Companies

“…The fact that linear companies still play a very important role in the economy and in the life of society, while platform companies are rapidly strengthening their positions and successfully competing with linear ones-often taking away customers resources from them by creating new markets and implementing the principles of stakeholder capitalismurges many stakeholders to carefully observe and try to evaluate the results of their activities not only in terms of economic efficiency, but also their consequences and contribution to a wide range of issues of concern to society-one of which is undoubtedly the achievement of SDGs [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21].…”

“…Theoretical and empirical research in the field of international business and, in part, international trade policy, traditionally rarely assesses and measures the changing role of transnational companies in global sustainable development issues-in particular, in agenda setting, SDG development, and the creation of intersectoral partnerships. In most cases, research focuses on macro-level analysis [7][8][9] and covers the current state of multinational companies' commitment to SDGs within individual sectors, e.g., patent applications [10], linkages between SDG targets and companies' value chain operations [11]; linkages between companies' subsidiaries and headquarters' SDG vision [12], corporate sustainability ethics [13] or a general overview of the issue [14].…”

Understanding how digital transformation can enable SMEs to achieve sustainable development: A systematic literature review

“…Furthermore, the wider concept of Industry 4.0 involves adoption of a range of technologies associated with distributed data management as part of the cyber-physical system (CPS), and such technologies are being harnessed to enable changes in the performance of firm's technical and production development, thereby leading to improved business performance (Moica et al, 2018). Moreover, the process of digital transformation can be viewed as a driver as well as a predecessor of sustainability, where industrial companies need to develop supporting digital capabilities in order to achieve a balanced set of impacts across economic, environmental and social dimensions (Gomez-Trujillo & Gonzalez-Perez, 2021). Therefore, there is the opportunity for SMEs to leverage the capabilities of digital production methods to support a pathway towards sustainability (Denicolai et al, 2021;Šimberová et al, 2022;Telukdarie et al, 2022).…”