DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIES: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55640/Keywords:
Digital transformation, SMEs, developing economies, financial technology, digitalization, innovation, ICT, economic growthAbstract
Digital transformation has become a critical driver of economic growth and competitiveness in developing economies, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This article examines the key challenges and opportunities associated with digital transformation in SMEs across developing countries. Based on analysis of international reports, academic studies, and institutional data, the study identifies infrastructural limitations, financial constraints, and skills gaps as primary barriers. At the same time, increased access to digital platforms, financial technologies, and global markets provides significant opportunities for SME growth. The findings highlight the importance of policy support, capacity building, and technological investment in accelerating digital adoption.
References
1.World Bank. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Finance. 2020, pp. 5–7.
2.OECD. SME and Entrepreneurship Outlook. 2019, pp. 12–15.
3.Vial, G. Understanding Digital Transformation: A Review and a Research Agenda. MIS Quarterly, 2019, pp. 118–120.
4.World Bank. Digital Adoption Index Report. 2021, pp. 23–25.
5.IFC. MSME Finance Gap Report. 2018, pp. 30–33.
6.OECD. Skills for Digital Transformation. 2020, pp. 40–42.
7.UNCTAD. COVID-19 and E-commerce Report. 2021, pp. 18–20.
8.GSMA. State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money. 2022, pp. 10–12.
9.UNCTAD. Digital Economy Report. 2021, pp. 50–53.
10.IFC. Financing SMEs in Emerging Markets. 2019, pp. 15–18.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain the copyright of their manuscripts, and all Open Access articles are disseminated under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC-BY), which licenses unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is appropriately cited. The use of general descriptive names, trade names, trademarks, and so forth in this publication, even if not specifically identified, does not imply that these names are not protected by the relevant laws and regulations.

