IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/tefoso/v173y2021ics0040162521006065.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Digitalisation boosts company performance: an overview of Italian listed companies

Author

Listed:
  • Truant, Elisa
  • Broccardo, Laura
  • Dana, Léo-Paul

Abstract

Digitalisation has become embedded in products and services, and it increasingly supports corporate business processes. However, few empirical studies have analysed the state of digitalisation and its implementation within companies, and the extant literature has painted an inconsistent picture concerning the effects of digitalisation. This survey-based study explores the diffusion of digitalisation, the advantages and difficulties in the practical transition to digitalisation, and its impact on performance. The sample includes Italian listed companies across diverse industries. The results highlight the still embryonic adoption of digital tools to support daily company operations; however, the impacts of digitalisation on company performance are noticeable. This research contributes to the literature on digitalisation and performance, breaks new ground by focusing on listed companies, and has implications for management investment in digitalisation for value creation.

Suggested Citation

  • Truant, Elisa & Broccardo, Laura & Dana, Léo-Paul, 2021. "Digitalisation boosts company performance: an overview of Italian listed companies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:173:y:2021:i:c:s0040162521006065
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121173
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162521006065
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121173?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bresciani, Stefano & Ferraris, Alberto & Del Giudice, Manlio, 2018. "The management of organizational ambidexterity through alliances in a new context of analysis: Internet of Things (IoT) smart city projects," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 331-338.
    2. Ramaswamy, Venkat & Ozcan, Kerimcan, 2016. "Brand value co-creation in a digitalized world: An integrative framework and research implications," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 93-106.
    3. Tonci Grubic & Ian Jennions, 2018. "Remote monitoring technology and servitised strategies – factors characterising the organisational application," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(6), pages 2133-2149, March.
    4. Saeed Moshiri & Wayne Simpson, 2011. "Information technology and the changing workplace in Canada: firm-level evidence," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 20(6), pages 1601-1636, December.
    5. Mary J. Benner & Ram Ranganathan, 2017. "Measuring Up? Persistence and Change in Analysts’ Evaluative Schemas Following Technological Change," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(4), pages 760-780, August.
    6. Sarstedt, Marko & Ringle, Christian M. & Smith, Donna & Reams, Russell & Hair, Joseph F., 2014. "Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM): A useful tool for family business researchers," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 105-115.
    7. Verhoef, Peter C. & Broekhuizen, Thijs & Bart, Yakov & Bhattacharya, Abhi & Qi Dong, John & Fabian, Nicolai & Haenlein, Michael, 2021. "Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 889-901.
    8. Erik Brynjolfsson & Lorin M. Hitt, 2003. "Computing Productivity: Firm-Level Evidence," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 85(4), pages 793-808, November.
    9. Wamba, Samuel Fosso & Gunasekaran, Angappa & Akter, Shahriar & Ren, Steven Ji-fan & Dubey, Rameshwar & Childe, Stephen J., 2017. "Big data analytics and firm performance: Effects of dynamic capabilities," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 356-365.
    10. Denicolai, Stefano & Zucchella, Antonella & Magnani, Giovanna, 2021. "Internationalization, digitalization, and sustainability: Are SMEs ready? A survey on synergies and substituting effects among growth paths," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    11. Kohtamäki, Marko & Parida, Vinit & Patel, Pankaj C. & Gebauer, Heiko, 2020. "The relationship between digitalization and servitization: The role of servitization in capturing the financial potential of digitalization," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    12. Verena Hossnofsky & Sebastian Junge, 2019. "Does the market reward digitalization efforts? Evidence from securities analysts’ investment recommendations," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 89(8), pages 965-994, December.
    13. Cenamor, J. & Rönnberg Sjödin, D. & Parida, V., 2017. "Adopting a platform approach in servitization: Leveraging the value of digitalization," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 54-65.
    14. Kohtamäki, Marko & Parida, Vinit & Oghazi, Pejvak & Gebauer, Heiko & Baines, Tim, 2019. "Digital servitization business models in ecosystems: A theory of the firm," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 380-392.
    15. Büchi, Giacomo & Cugno, Monica & Castagnoli, Rebecca, 2020. "Smart factory performance and Industry 4.0," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    16. Visnjic, Ivanka & Neely, Andy & Jovanovic, Marin, 2018. "The path to outcome delivery: Interplay of service market strategy and open business models," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 72, pages 46-59.
    17. Léo-Paul Dana & Hervé Dumez, 2015. "Qualitative research revisited: epistemology of a comprehensive approach," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 26(2), pages 154-170.
    18. Salvi, Antonio & Vitolla, Filippo & Rubino, Michele & Giakoumelou, Anastasia & Raimo, Nicola, 2021. "Online information on digitalisation processes and its impact on firm value," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 437-444.
    19. Léo Paul Dana & Hervé Dumez, 2015. "Qualitative research revisited: epistemology of a comprehensive approach," Post-Print hal-01508985, HAL.
    20. Erik Brynjolfsson & Lorin M. Hitt, 2000. "Beyond Computation: Information Technology, Organizational Transformation and Business Performance," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 14(4), pages 23-48, Fall.
    21. Fuentelsaz, Lucio & Gómez, Jaime & Palomas, Sergio, 2009. "The effects of new technologies on productivity: An intrafirm diffusion-based assessment," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(7), pages 1172-1180, September.
    22. Andrew Davies, 2004. "Moving base into high-value integrated solutions: a value stream approach," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 13(5), pages 727-756, October.
    23. Margherita Pagani & Catherine Pardo, 2017. "The impact of digital technology on relationships in a business network," Post-Print hal-02312032, HAL.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kohtamäki, Marko & Parida, Vinit & Patel, Pankaj C. & Gebauer, Heiko, 2020. "The relationship between digitalization and servitization: The role of servitization in capturing the financial potential of digitalization," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    2. Piepponen, Amanda & Ritala, Paavo & Keränen, Joona & Maijanen, Päivi, 2022. "Digital transformation of the value proposition: A single case study in the media industry," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 311-325.
    3. Mosch, Philipp & Schweikl, Stefan & Obermaier, Robert, 2021. "Trapped in the supply chain? Digital servitization strategies and power relations in the case of an industrial technology supplier," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    4. Tian, Jiamian & Coreynen, Wim & Matthyssens, Paul & Shen, Lei, 2022. "Platform-based servitization and business model adaptation by established manufacturers," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    5. Korkeamäki, Lauri & Kohtamäki, Marko & Parida, Vinit, 2021. "Worth the risk? The profit impact of outcome-based service offerings for manufacturing firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 92-102.
    6. Feliciano-Cestero, María M. & Ameen, Nisreen & Kotabe, Masaaki & Paul, Justin & Signoret, Mario, 2023. "Is digital transformation threatened? A systematic literature review of the factors influencing firms’ digital transformation and internationalization," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    7. Culot, Giovanna & Orzes, Guido & Sartor, Marco & Nassimbeni, Guido, 2020. "The future of manufacturing: A Delphi-based scenario analysis on Industry 4.0," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    8. Jovanovic, Marin & Sjödin, David & Parida, Vinit, 2022. "Co-evolution of platform architecture, platform services, and platform governance: Expanding the platform value of industrial digital platforms," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    9. Kohtamäki, Marko & Rabetino, Rodrigo & Einola, Suvi & Parida, Vinit & Patel, Pankaj, 2021. "Unfolding the digital servitization path from products to product-service-software systems: Practicing change through intentional narratives," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 379-392.
    10. Miehé, Lucas & Palmié, Maximilian & Oghazi, Pejvak, 2023. "Connection successfully established: How complementors use connectivity technologies to join existing ecosystems – Four archetype strategies from the mobility sector," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    11. Ancillai, Chiara & Sabatini, Andrea & Gatti, Marco & Perna, Andrea, 2023. "Digital technology and business model innovation: A systematic literature review and future research agenda," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    12. Jonas Wirth & Mirko Schneider & Leon Hanselmann & Kira Fink & Stephan Nebauer & Thomas Bauernhansl, 2024. "An Exploratory Analysis of the Current Status and Potential of Service-Oriented and Data-Driven Business Models within the Sheet Metal Working Sector: Insights from Interview-Based Research in Small a," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-19, March.
    13. Zhou, Dan & Kautonen, Mika & Dai, Weiqi & Zhang, Hui, 2021. "Exploring how digitalization influences incumbents in financial services: The role of entrepreneurial orientation, firm assets, and organizational legitimacy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    14. Scott, Susan V. & Van Reenen, John & Zachariadis, Markos, 2017. "The long-term effect of digital innovation on bank performance: An empirical study of SWIFT adoption in financial services," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(5), pages 984-1004.
    15. Linus Thomson & Anmar Kamalaldin & David Sjödin & Vinit Parida, 2022. "A maturity framework for autonomous solutions in manufacturing firms: The interplay of technology, ecosystem, and business model," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 125-152, March.
    16. Shen, Lei & Sun, Wanqin & Parida, Vinit, 2023. "Consolidating digital servitization research: A systematic review, integrative framework, and future research directions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    17. Troise, Ciro & Corvello, Vincenzo & Ghobadian, Abby & O'Regan, Nicholas, 2022. "How can SMEs successfully navigate VUCA environment: The role of agility in the digital transformation era," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    18. Zhou, Dan & Yan, Tingting & Dai, Weiqi & Feng, Junzheng, 2021. "Disentangling the interactions within and between servitization and digitalization strategies: A service-dominant logic," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    19. Kohtamäki, Marko & Parida, Vinit & Oghazi, Pejvak & Gebauer, Heiko & Baines, Tim, 2019. "Digital servitization business models in ecosystems: A theory of the firm," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 380-392.
    20. Francesco Venturini & Ana Rincon-Aznar & Dr Michela Vecchi, 2013. "ICT as a general purpose technology: spillovers, absorptive capacity and productivity performance," National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) Discussion Papers 416, National Institute of Economic and Social Research.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:173:y:2021:i:c:s0040162521006065. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00401625 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.