The Cashless Economy from the Perspective of SMEs: Review of Research and Recommended Directions for Future Studies

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the paper is to provide a critical evaluation of empirical studies on cashless payments and the cashless economy from the perspective of small and medium-sized private enterprises and to identify research gaps in this area. Research Design & Methods: The article is a review of empirical research on the cashless economy from the perspective of enterprises. The review relates to theory, methodology and contexts applied in studies published over a period of the last 15 years. It also includes the analysis and synthesis of findings from the studies relating to individual countries. Findings: Future research should concentrate on several areas, including: identification of the opportunities and threats related to the perspective of an entirely cashless economy for enterprises of different scales of activity and representing different sectors, identification of the barriers and drivers related to the cashless economy from a businesses’ perspective and defining the potential strengths and weaknesses of fully cashless enterprises in the contemporary economy. Implications / Recommendations: Filling the identified research gaps requires a holistic approach to payments in enterprises. It requires collection and analysis of data covering businesses representing different scales and industries, and using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Contribution: The article provides a synthesis of current knowledge, identifies research gaps, and suggests directions for future research in the field of cashless economy.