The impact of ICT on the sustainability and business competitiveness of MSMEs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61799/2216-0388.1575Keywords:
Business Competitiveness, Business Sustainability, Covid-19, Digital Transformation, ICT, Innovation, MSMESAbstract
This article presents the results of a descriptive literature review focused on evaluating the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on the sustainability and business competitiveness of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) during and after the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) pandemic. The methodological process was structured in three phases: systematic search in Scopus and Web of Science databases using keywords and Boolean operators; document selection through inclusion/exclusion criteria (publication between 2015 and 2025, peer-reviewed, focus on MSMEs, and explicit link to ICT, sustainability or competitiveness); and qualitative analysis through a review matrix that coded variables such as type of ICT, sustainability dimension impacted (economic, social, environmental), competitiveness indicators, and sectoral context. From the analysis of 50 finally selected articles, four central thematic axes were identified: e-commerce, innovation, technological infrastructure, and crisis resilience. Findings show that while ICT acts as a catalyst for competitiveness by expanding markets and optimizing operations, its contribution to environmental sustainability is limited and dependent on the type of technology adopted and the productive sector. The study concludes with recommendations for MSMEs and policymakers and proposes future research lines on the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies into sustainable business models.
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