Digital Transformation as a Catalyst for Business Sustainability: A PRISMA-Compliant Scoping Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56442/rttm.v3i4.108Keywords:
digital transformation, business sustainability, ESG, scoping reviewAbstract
This study examines how digital transformation (DT) drives business sustainability (BS) by synthesizing fragmented research on the integration of digital technologies—such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and big data analytics—with sustainability strategies. Using a PRISMA-compliant scoping review of 45 peer-reviewed articles published between 2018 and 2025 and guided by the Dynamic Capabilities Theory and the Triple Bottom Line framework, the study systematically maps industry focus, research methods, theoretical grounding, and sustainability dimensions. The review identifies five dominant pathways through which DT supports BS: circular economy enablement, smart resource management, supply chain transparency, stakeholder engagement, and data-driven decision-making. These technologies have been shown to improve resource efficiency, reduce emissions, and enhance ESG performance, yet the literature is heavily concentrated in developed economies, underrepresents small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and emerging markets, and relies primarily on quantitative, cross-sectional designs that offer limited causal or longitudinal evidence. For practitioners, aligning DT initiatives with strategic sustainability goals, developing organizational change-management capabilities, and fostering collaborative ecosystems are critical to realizing systemic sustainability gains. For policymakers, addressing issues of standardization, interoperability, and equitable access to digital resources is essential. This study contributes an integrated synthesis using established theoretical frameworks, clarifies the mechanisms linking DT and BS, and proposes a future research agenda emphasizing theoretical integration, methodological diversity, and broader geographic coverage.
References
Akhter, S., Bhuyan, M. H., Taslim, S. M. B., Amanul Islam, M., Hossen, M. S., Zishan, M. S. R., & Arefin, J. (2025). Neuro-Symbolic AI for IoT-driven smart cities: A next-generation framework for urban intelligence. Journal of Computer Science and Technology Studies, 7(2), 36–55. https://doi.org/10.32996/jcsts.2025.7.2.4
Anderson, E., Larsson, A., & Johansson, L. (2024). Digital twins for sustainable operations: Implementation and performance analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 412, 137456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137456
Brown, J., Thompson, E., & Davis, R. (2022). IoT applications in smart agriculture: Sustainability impacts and implementation challenges. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 195, 106834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2022.106834
Carvajal-Flores, D. F., Abril-Jiménez, P., Fico, G., Buhid, E., & Cabrera Umpiérrez, M. F. (2024). Enhancing industrial digitalisation through an adaptable component for bridging semantic interoperability gaps. Applied Sciences, 14(6), 2309. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14062309
Cui, J. (2024). Analysis digital transformation on corporate ESG performance: A qualitative study. Journal of Modern Social Sciences, 1(2), 89–98. https://doi.org/10.71113/jmss.v1i2.35
Dakhia, Z., Russo, M., & Merenda, M. (2025). AI-enabled IoT for food computing: Challenges, opportunities, and future directions. Sensors, 25(7), 2147. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25072147
Eyieyien, O., Ijomah, T., Paul, P., & Idemudia, C. (2024). Strategic approaches for successful digital transformation in project management across industries. International Journal of Frontiers in Engineering and Technology Research, 7(1), 01–011. https://doi.org/10.53294/ijfetr.2024.7.1.0037
Garcia, M., Rodriguez, C., & Lopez, A. (2023). Blockchain for sustainable supply chains: Implementation challenges and opportunities. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 28(4), 567–583. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-06-2022-0213
Geldres-Weiss, V. V., Massa, N. P., Geldres-Weiss, S. L., & Gambetta, N. (2021). Materiality matrix use in aligning and determining a firm’s sustainable business model archetype and triple bottom line impact on stakeholders. Sustainability, 13(3), 1065. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031065
Hokmabadi, H., De Matos, C. A., & Rezvani, S. M. H. S. (2024). Business resilience for small and medium enterprises and startups by digital transformation and the role of marketing capabilities—A systematic review. Systems, 12(6), 220. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems12060220
Johnson, M., & Lee, S.-H. (2022). AI-driven sustainability in manufacturing: A case study of smart factory implementation. International Journal of Production Research, 60(12), 3842–3859. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2021.1956684
Kalluri, R. C. (2023). An impact of digital technology in sustainable business development. Journal of Law and Sustainable Development, 11(12), e2696. https://doi.org/10.55908/sdgs.v11i12.2696
Kim, H.-S., & Park, M.-J. (2022). Big data analytics for sustainability: A case study in energy management. Energy Policy, 164, 112891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2022.112891
Li, Y., & Zhao, T. (2024). How digital transformation enables corporate sustainability: Based on the internal and external efficiency improvement perspective. Sustainability, 16(12), 5037. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16125037
Mick, M. M. A. P., Chiroli, D. M. D. G., & Kovaleski, J. L. (2024). Sustainable digital transformation roadmaps for SMEs: A systematic literature review. Sustainability, 16(19), 8551. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198551
Miller, J., & Davis, M. (2023). Digital platforms for sustainability reporting: Enhancing transparency and stakeholder engagement. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 30(3), 1456–1471. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2415
Ononiwu, M., Onwuzulike, O., & Shitu, K. (2024). The role of digital business transformation in enhancing organizational agility. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 23(3), 285–308. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.23.3.2670
Queiroz, G. A., Alves Junior, P. N., & Costa Melo, I. (2022). Digitalization as an enabler to SMEs implementing lean-green? A systematic review through the topic modelling approach. Sustainability, 14(21), 14089. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114089
Rossi, P., Bianchi, G., & Ferrari, M. (2023). Industry 4.0 and environmental performance: A multi-industry analysis. Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 67, 198–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmsy.2023.01.005
Senoo, E. E. K., Anggraini, L., Karolina, L. B., Sulyman, H. A., Mendonça, I., Akansah, E., Aritsugi, M., & Kumi, J. A. (2024). IoT solutions with artificial intelligence technologies for precision agriculture: Definitions, applications, challenges, and opportunities. Electronics, 13(10), 1894. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13101894
Smith, A., Müller, K., & Weber, S. (2023). Digital technologies for circular economy implementation in manufacturing: A systematic analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 385, 135687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135687
Taylor, R., & Wilson, H. (2023). Cloud computing and green IT: Environmental benefits and implementation strategies. Information Systems Frontiers, 25(2), 743–761. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-021-10214-5
Wang, L., & Chen, W. (2024). Digital transformation and ESG performance: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms. Business Strategy and the Environment, 33(2), 1245–1262. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3503
Wu, Y., Ivashkovskaya, I., Besstremyannaya, G., & Liu, C. (2025). Unlocking green innovation potential amidst digital transformation challenges—The evidence from ESG transformation in China. Sustainability, 17(1), 309. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17010309
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.