Building the success of culinary SMEs in food processing: Perspectives on business ecosystem analysis and digital transformation in West Java, Indonesia

This study seeks to analyze the role and impact of the business environment and digital transformation on the development of small culinary firms focused on processed foods. While a business ecosystem and digitalization generally impact various business kinds, research particularly addressing small culinary operations is few. This study used a descriptive and verification-based methodology, focusing on West Java, Indonesia, as the case study. The unit of analysis comprises small culinary firms that focus on processed meals, whereas the units of observation are the business actors involved. Observations and surveys were performed over nearly a year, from January 2022 to November 2023, with primary data evaluated by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and supplemented by a literature study to validate the findings. The results demonstrate that the business environment and digital transformation enhance the success of small culinary firms focused on processed goods. An effective business ecosystem and suitable digital transformation can greatly influence corporate success. Consequently, business stakeholders are urged to capitalize on prevailing business ecosystem conditions and enhance digital transformation in decision-making processes to attain company success.