Digital Transformation as a Catalyst for Business Sustainability: A PRISMA-Compliant Scoping Review
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- Abstract
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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.
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