Digital Transformation Through the Lens of Digital Data Handling: An Exploratory Analysis of Agri-Food SMEs

Abstract

This study aims to explore digital transformation and the level of sophistication in the digital data handling strategy by agri-food small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By developing an exploratory multiple-case study that involves fourteen food processing SMEs, this paper identifies a data processing flow made up of the following phases: data generation, data acquisition, data storage, data analysis, and data exploitation. In addition, it shows how data processing flow may occur in a number of ways, thereby classifying the agri-food SMEs’ digital transformation as paper master, digital wannabe, and digital champion. Hence, the article contributes to providing the conceptualization of a data processing flow, which includes the progressive stages in data management identified across firms by proposing a data handling strategy framework. Such a framework offers a snapshot of firms at various levels of digitization in their handling of various kinds of data, thus clarifying how the strategies of data processing flow occur.

Seeding innovation: the role of internal and external digital data in agri-food product innovation

“…, 2020; Steenis and Fischer, 2016). Digital technologies encompass software applications, hardware devices, and communication networks that facilitate data generation, acquisition, storage, analysis, and exploitation (Frau et al. , 2022a; Konfo et al.…”

“…Prior studies investigating the impact of digital technologies on food product innovation have considerably increased the knowledge of how agri-food companies employ digital data (e.g., Beckeman et al. , 2013; Varese and Cane, 2017; Frau et al. , 2022a).…”

“…Prior studies investigating the impact of digital technologies on food product innovation have considerably increased the knowledge of how agri-food companies employ digital data (e.g., Beckeman et al, 2013;Varese and Cane, 2017;Frau et al, 2022a). For instance, using precision technologies, which rely on digital data to innovate products, farmers can improve crop yields and reduce inputs such as water and fertiliser (Romanello and Veglio, 2022).…”

“…Digital transformation in the agri-food product innovation: technologies and digital data sources Digital transformation dramatically impacts the agri-food industry by providing a new generation of equipment known as digital technologies (Adamashvili et al, 2020;Steenis and Fischer, 2016). Digital technologies encompass software applications, hardware devices, and communication networks that facilitate data generation, acquisition, storage, analysis, and exploitation (Frau et al, 2022a;Konfo et al, 2023).…”

Digital Transformation for SMEs Development Based at Four Levels of Analysis – A Literature Review

“…Digital transformation refers to detailed improvements in organizational capacity and performance, driven by IT stimuli across the entire human resource body (Li et al, 2018). Additionally, small-and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are now going through a considerable shift due to digitalization (Frau et al, 2022). The rapid advancement of digital technology and the vast amount of information a machine can acquire in a single day are forcing SMEs to alter their business strategies to provide proper value (Frau et al, 2018).…”