Title: The impact of the digital economy on SMEs: a systematic literature review based on organisational and environmental moderators

Authors: Yunfeng Li; Noorasiah Sulaiman; Feng Guo; Shaomei Lu

Addresses: Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia ' Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia ' Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia ' Guangxi Academy of Oceanography, 530000 Nanning, Guangxi, China

Abstract: Centring on the core topic of the digital economy's impact on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this study conducts a systematic literature review and analysis in accordance with the standard procedures of the PRISMA protocol. The study specifically focuses on two aspects: on the one hand, the mediating role played by organisational capabilities, and on the other hand, the moderating effect exerted by the external environment. The findings reveal that digital technologies (e-commerce, cloud computing, big data) enhance SME performance by enabling market expansion and operational efficiency. Crucially, organisational capabilities are identified as a key mediator, translating technology adoption into performance gains, while external factors like government policy and market competition significantly moderate this relationship. By integrating these elements into the TOE framework, this study offers a nuanced model for understanding SME digitalisation, providing valuable insights for both policymakers and managers to better support digital transformation.

Keywords: digital economy; SME performance; organisation; external environment; preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses; PRISMA; digital transformation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBPIM.2025.151631

International Journal of Business Process Integration and Management, 2025 Vol.12 No.4, pp.379 - 391

Received: 04 Oct 2025
Accepted: 23 Oct 2025
Published online: 10 Feb 2026 *

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