The Transformation Process of Turkish Smes in Terms of Digitalization and Sustainability

Abstract

Digitalization and sustainability are no longer contentious topics in today's world. Digital innovation and ecological actions constantly evolve, affecting a company's strategy, structure, operations, and performance. These developments are particularly important for growing economies such as Türkiye. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are essential to the Turkish economy, providing 72 % of employment. The utilization of digital innovations and sustainability approaches is having an increasingly positive impact on the growth of SMEs in today's business environment. This article focuses on the transformative process of Turkish SMEs toward sustainability and digitalization. The data were from the Flash Eurobarometer 486, which compares the average of 27 EU countries to Türkiye. As a result of the study, it is understood that sustainability and digitalization continue to be underused in Turkish SMEs, primarily due to high investment requirements and a scarcity of financial resources.