Digital Innovation in Microenterprises: Current Trends and New Research Avenues

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Gómez-Morantes, Juan E., Herrera, Andrea, Camacho, Sonia
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Gómez-Morantes, Juan E.
Herrera, Andrea
Camacho, Sonia
author_facet Gómez-Morantes, Juan E.
Herrera, Andrea
Camacho, Sonia
contents The relationship between microenterprises and information and communication technologies (ICTs) has always been troublesome. Because of the rapid pace of modern digital technologies, digital innovation processes are permeating the industries, markets, and social contexts in which microenterprises exist today. However, microenterprises have severe difficulties engaging or performing in these digital contexts and are at risk of being left behind. This paper reviews the literature on ICTs and microenterprises, focusing on the adoption, usage, and impact of ICTs. The results indicate that further research in this field should avoid focusing on individual microenterprises (or samples of independent microenterprises) as the unit of analysis and should favour a systemic approach in which markets, value chains, or microenterprise-intensive sectors are studied. Additionally, theoretical frameworks capable of considering change and the dynamic nature of innovation processes are highlighted as a critical focus area for the field.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_07519
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Digital Innovation in Microenterprises: Current Trends and New Research Avenues
Gómez-Morantes, Juan E.
Herrera, Andrea
Camacho, Sonia
Computers and Society
H.4.0; J.1
The relationship between microenterprises and information and communication technologies (ICTs) has always been troublesome. Because of the rapid pace of modern digital technologies, digital innovation processes are permeating the industries, markets, and social contexts in which microenterprises exist today. However, microenterprises have severe difficulties engaging or performing in these digital contexts and are at risk of being left behind. This paper reviews the literature on ICTs and microenterprises, focusing on the adoption, usage, and impact of ICTs. The results indicate that further research in this field should avoid focusing on individual microenterprises (or samples of independent microenterprises) as the unit of analysis and should favour a systemic approach in which markets, value chains, or microenterprise-intensive sectors are studied. Additionally, theoretical frameworks capable of considering change and the dynamic nature of innovation processes are highlighted as a critical focus area for the field.
title Digital Innovation in Microenterprises: Current Trends and New Research Avenues
topic Computers and Society
H.4.0; J.1
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.07519