PRODUCT INNOVATION STRATEGY AND ITS IMPACT ON SME COMPETITIVENESS IN THE ERA OF THE DIGITAL ECONOMY
Abstract
This research examines product innovation strategies and their impact on the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the food and beverage sector in Kendari City, in the context of the digital economy. The aim of this research is to explore effective innovation strategies, analyze the impact of innovation on increasing competitiveness, and evaluate available support and resources. The research method uses mixed methods with survey design and in-depth interviews. The respondents were 50 small and medium businesses in the food and beverage industry in Kendari City. The research results show that the use of digital technology and the frequency of product development are key factors that help increase the competitiveness of SME businesses. In addition, external government support and access to financial resources greatly influence SMEs' ability to innovate. The implications of this research indicate the need for policies that support the integration of digital technology into SME innovation strategies and increase access to external resources and support.
References
Adam, Nawal Abdalla, and Ghadah Alarifi. 2021. “Innovation Practices for Survival of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the COVID-19 Times: The Role of External Support.” Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 10(1).
Agazu, Biniam Getnet, and Chalchissa Amentie Kero. 2024. “Innovation Strategy and Firm Competitiveness: A Systematic Literature Review.” Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-024-00381-9.
Aminullah, Erman et al. 2022. Journal of the Knowledge Economy Interactive Components of Digital MSMEs Ecosystem for Inclusive Digital Economy in Indonesia.
Belyaeva, Zhanna, and Yana Lopatkova. 2020. “The Impact of Digitalization and Sustainable Development Goals in SMEs’ Strategy: A Multi-Country European Study BT - The Changing Role of SMEs in Global Business: Volume II: Contextual Evolution Across Markets, Disciplines and Sectors.” In eds. Alkis Thrassou et al. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 15–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45835-5_2.
Hu, Yuchong, Yifan Pan, Miao Yu, and Peishen Chen. 2024. Journal of the Knowledge Economy Navigating Digital Transformation and Knowledge Structures: Insights for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. Springer US. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-024-01754-x.
Kergroach, S. 2021. “SMEs Going Digital: Policy Challenges and Recommendations. Going Digital Toolkit Note, 15.” Going Digital Toolkit Note 15: 1–37.
Kraus, Sascha et al. 2021. “Digital Transformation: An Overview of the Current State of the Art of Research.” SAGE Open 11(3).
Lopez-Torres, Gabriela Citlalli. 2023. “The Impact of SMEs’ Sustainability on Competitiveness.” Measuring Business Excellence 27(1): 107–20. https://doi.org/10.1108/MBE-12-2021-0144.
Magoutas, Anastasios I., Maria Chaideftou, Dimitra Skandali, and Panos T. Chountalas. 2024. “Digital Progression and Economic Growth: Analyzing the Impact of ICT Advancements on the GDP of European Union Countries.” Economies 12(3): 1–17.
Masongsong, Abagail Celfred et al. 2024. “Digital Transformation of International Trade for SMEs in Developing Countries: Opportunities, Challenges.” SSRN Electronic Journal.
de Mattos, Camila Silva, Giustina Pellegrini, Geoffrey Hagelaar, and Wilfred Dolfsma. 2024. 74 Management Review Quarterly Systematic Literature Review on Technological Transformation in SMEs: A Transformation Encompassing Technology Assimilation and Business Model Innovation. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-023-00327-7.
Mishrif, Ashraf, and Asharul Khan. 2023. “Technology Adoption as Survival Strategy for Small and Medium Enterprises during COVID-19.” Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-023-00317-9.
Nadkarni, Swen, and Reinhard Prügl. 2021. 71 Management Review Quarterly Digital Transformation: A Review, Synthesis and Opportunities for Future Research. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-020-00185-7.
Naeem, Rimsha, Marko Kohtamäki, and Vinit Parida. 2024. Review of Managerial Science Artificial Intelligence Enabled Product–Service Innovation: Past Achievements and Future Directions. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-024-00757-x.
Opazo-Basáez, Marco, Ferran Vendrell-Herrero, and Oscar F Bustinza. 2022. “Digital Service Innovation: A Paradigm Shift in Technological Innovation.” Journal of Service Management 33(1): 97–120. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOSM-11-2020-0427.
Pertuz, Vanessa, and Adith Pérez. 2021. “Innovation Management Practices: Review and Guidance for Future Research in SMEs.” Management Review Quarterly 71(1): 177–213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-020-00183-9.
Quintero Sepúlveda, Isabel Cristina, and Alexander Zúñiga Collazos. 2023. “Innovation Capabilities, Innovation Strategies and Performance: An Empirical Analysis in SMEs.” Technology Analysis and Strategic Management: 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537325.2023.2280523.
Ribeiro, Maria I B, Márcia C R Rogão, Isabel M Lopes, and António J G Fernandes. 2024. “Impact of Technology Revolution on Economic Development Over the Past Decade BT - Advanced Research in Technologies, Information, Innovation and Sustainability.” In eds. Teresa Guarda, Filipe Portela, and Jose Maria Diaz-Nafria. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 485–501.
Roux, Mélanie et al. 2023. “Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises as Technology Innovation Intermediaries in Sustainable Business Ecosystem: Interplay between AI Adoption, Low Carbon Management and Resilience.” Annals of Operations Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-023-05760-1.
Rustiarini, Ni Wayan, Desak Ayu Sriary Bhegawati, and Ni Putu Yuria Mendra. 2022. “Does Green Innovation Improve SME Performance?” Economies 10(12).
Samadhiya, Ashutosh, Anil Kumar, and Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes. 2023. “Circular and Digital Systems in SMEs: An Assessment of the Past and Present Literature for Future Research Directions.” International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness 18(2): 114–27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42943-023-00073-3.
Soto Setzke, David, Tobias Riasanow, Markus Böhm, and Helmut Krcmar. 2023. “Pathways to Digital Service Innovation: The Role of Digital Transformation Strategies in Established Organizations.” Information Systems Frontiers 25(3): 1017–37.
Thrassou, Alkis, Naziyet Uzunboylu, Demetris Vrontis, and Michael Christofi. 2020. “Digitalization of SMEs: A Review of Opportunities and Challenges BT - The Changing Role of SMEs in Global Business: Volume II: Contextual Evolution Across Markets, Disciplines and Sectors.” In eds. Alkis Thrassou et al. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 179–200. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45835-5_9.
Vrontis, Demetris, Ranjan Chaudhuri, and Sheshadri Chatterjee. 2022. “Adoption of Digital Technologies by SMEs for Sustainability and Value Creation: Moderating Role of Entrepreneurial Orientation.” Sustainability (Switzerland) 14(13).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC LITERATURE

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC LITERATURE © 2023 by Adisam Publisher is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0