Digital transformation process of SME entrepreneurs: the perspective of century-old businesses

Ari Ö., TEMİZKAN R.

Journal of Foodservice Business Research, 2025 (Scopus) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/15378020.2025.2525620
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Foodservice Business Research
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, Academic Search Premier, IBZ Online, ABI/INFORM, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, CAB Abstracts, Environment Index, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, Hospitality & Tourism Complete, Hospitality & Tourism Index
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Digital maturity, digital transformation, SME, technological readiness
  • Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study explores digital transformation among century-old SMEs (established 1833–1921) in the food and beverage industry, focusing on their technological awareness and usage behaviors. Using a mixed method, convergent parallel design, it identifies four digital maturity stages: Technology Avoidant, Passive Acceptance, Technology Adaptation, and Researcher/Pioneer. These stages reveal diverse levels of digital integration influenced by both intrinsic motivations and external pressures. Unlike generic SME models, the framework highlights tradition driven resistance, nonlinear adoption paths, and a nuanced balance of internal and external drivers traits unique to historic SMEs navigating digital change.