IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2022i1p207-d1012346.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Digital Transformation as a Driver of the Financial Sector Sustainable Development: An Impact on Financial Inclusion and Operational Efficiency

Author

Listed:
  • Inese Mavlutova

    (Department of Economics and Finance, BA School of Business and Finance, LV-1013 Riga, Latvia)

  • Aivars Spilbergs

    (Department of Economics and Finance, BA School of Business and Finance, LV-1013 Riga, Latvia)

  • Atis Verdenhofs

    (Department of Economics and Finance, BA School of Business and Finance, LV-1013 Riga, Latvia)

  • Andris Natrins

    (Laboratory of Financial Services and Compliance, BA School of Business and Finance, LV-1013 Riga, Latvia)

  • Ilja Arefjevs

    (Department of Economics and Finance, BA School of Business and Finance, LV-1013 Riga, Latvia)

  • Tatjana Volkova

    (Department of Management, BA School of Business and Finance, LV-1013 Riga, Latvia)

Abstract

The increase in studies on how digital transformation based on the application of digital technologies affects the sustainable development of various sectors of the economy has been observed. Although digital transformation is important for the financial sector sustainable development, the drivers and links between them are weakly addressed by researchers. The study is aimed at exploring how digital transformation due to the application of innovative technologies and solutions, especially digital payments, is leading to the financial sector sustainable development through financial inclusion and operational efficiency. The current research presents the study of the financial sector digital transformation and its sustainable development based on a systematic literature review, a secondary data analysis, and expert interviews to provide further research directions and draw practical suggestions for professionals on the financial sector digital transformation toward sustainable development in the future. A systematic literature analysis is performed based on text analytics, a bibliometric analysis, and network maps aimed at acknowledging the existing research outcomes and identifying the research gaps on the digital transformation agenda in the financial sector. The collected data on the digital payments’ dynamic in the EU were analyzed with the use of statistical methods, including a correlation and regression analysis. Structured expert interviews were used to validate research findings and to highlight key issues of the digital transformation in the financial sector of Baltic countries. The authors have paid special attention to the sustainable development of the financial sector’s economic dimension and its efficiency indicators, such as financial inclusion and digital payments’ intensity. A social dimension is limited toward financial inclusion based on digital payments’ offering. The research results indicated recent trends in digital transformation and types of usage of digital technologies in the EU and Baltic countries to ensure the sustainable development of financial institutions. Furthermore, the results revealed a significant increase in the digital payments’ intensity during the last years in the EU, as well as a close relationship between digital payments with financial inclusion and operational efficiency of financial institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Inese Mavlutova & Aivars Spilbergs & Atis Verdenhofs & Andris Natrins & Ilja Arefjevs & Tatjana Volkova, 2022. "Digital Transformation as a Driver of the Financial Sector Sustainable Development: An Impact on Financial Inclusion and Operational Efficiency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-24, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2022:i:1:p:207-:d:1012346
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/1/207/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/1/207/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. Xia, Yanchun & Qiao, Zhilin & Xie, Guanghua, 2022. "Corporate resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of digital finance," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    3. Umair Akram & Melinda Timea Fülöp & Adriana Tiron-Tudor & Dan Ioan Topor & Sorinel Căpușneanu, 2021. "Impact of Digitalization on Customers’ Well-Being in the Pandemic Period: Challenges and Opportunities for the Retail Industry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-21, July.
    4. Tchamyou, Vanessa S. & Erreygers, Guido & Cassimon, Danny, 2019. "Inequality, ICT and financial access in Africa," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 169-184.
    5. Allen, Franklin & Demirguc-Kunt, Asli & Klapper, Leora & Martinez Peria, Maria Soledad, 2016. "The foundations of financial inclusion: Understanding ownership and use of formal accounts," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 1-30.
    6. Jiangbo Yu & Ying Xu & Kai Bai, 2022. "Can Digital Finance Narrow the Household Consumption Gap of Residents on Either Side of the Hu Line?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, August.
    7. Acheampong, Alex O., 2019. "Modelling for insight: Does financial development improve environmental quality?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 156-179.
    8. Vinit Parida & David Sjödin & Wiebke Reim, 2019. "Reviewing Literature on Digitalization, Business Model Innovation, and Sustainable Industry: Past Achievements and Future Promises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-18, January.
    9. Karolis Andriuškevičius & Dalia Štreimikienė & Irena Alebaitė, 2022. "Convergence between Indicators for Measuring Sustainable Development and M&A Performance in the Energy Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-23, August.
    10. Tatjana Tambovceva & Jelena Titko & Anna Svirina & Dzintra Atstaja & Maria Tereshina, 2021. "Evaluation of the Consumer Perception of Sharing Economy: Cases of Latvia, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-14, December.
    11. Ramona Rupeika-Apoga & Stefan Wendt, 2021. "FinTech in Latvia: Status Quo, Current Developments, and Challenges Ahead," Risks, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-23, October.
    12. Désiré Kanga & Christine Oughton & Laurence Harris & Victor Murinde, 2022. "The diffusion of fintech, financial inclusion and income per capita," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(1), pages 108-136, January.
    13. Inese Mavlutova & Andris Fomins & Aivars Spilbergs & Dzintra Atstaja & Janis Brizga, 2021. "Opportunities to Increase Financial Well-Being by Investing in Environmental, Social and Governance with Respect to Improving Financial Literacy under COVID-19: The Case of Latvia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-25, December.
    14. Guandalini, Ilaria, 2022. "Sustainability through digital transformation: A systematic literature review for research guidance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 456-471.
    15. Abdulla S. Al-Shaiba & Sami G. Al-Ghamdi & Muammer Koc, 2019. "Comparative Review and Analysis of Organizational (In)Efficiency Indicators in Qatar," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-23, November.
    16. Insung Son & Sihyun Kim, 2018. "Mobile Payment Service and the Firm Value: Focusing on both Up- and Down-Stream Alliance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-16, July.
    17. Nees Jan Eck & Ludo Waltman, 2010. "Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 84(2), pages 523-538, August.
    18. Francisco Javier Forcadell & Elisa Aracil & Fernando Ubeda, 2020. "Using reputation for corporate sustainability to tackle banks digitalization challenges," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 2181-2193, September.
    19. Ahamed, M. Mostak & Mallick, Sushanta K., 2019. "Is financial inclusion good for bank stability? International evidence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 403-427.
    20. Nill, Jan & Kemp, Ren, 2009. "Evolutionary approaches for sustainable innovation policies: From niche to paradigm?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 668-680, May.
    21. Bollaert, Helen & Lopez-de-Silanes, Florencio & Schwienbacher, Armin, 2021. "Fintech and access to finance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    22. Francisco Jesús Gálvez-Sánchez & Juan Lara-Rubio & Antonio José Verdú-Jóver & Víctor Meseguer-Sánchez, 2021. "Research Advances on Financial Inclusion: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-19, March.
    23. Stanisław Flejterski, 2019. "Sustainable Financial Systems," Palgrave Studies in Impact Finance, in: Magdalena Ziolo & Bruno S. Sergi (ed.), Financing Sustainable Development, chapter 0, pages 269-297, Palgrave Macmillan.
    24. Ferreira, João J.M. & Fernandes, Cristina I. & Ferreira, Fernando A.F., 2019. "To be or not to be digital, that is the question: Firm innovation and performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 583-590.
    25. Gamze Ozturk Danisman & Amine Tarazi, 2020. "Financial inclusion and bank stability: evidence from Europe," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(18), pages 1842-1855, December.
    26. Palmié, Maximilian & Wincent, Joakim & Parida, Vinit & Caglar, Umur, 2020. "The evolution of the financial technology ecosystem: An introduction and agenda for future research on disruptive innovations in ecosystems," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    27. Gerard George & Ryan K. Merrill & Simon J. D. Schillebeeckx, 2021. "Digital Sustainability and Entrepreneurship: How Digital Innovations Are Helping Tackle Climate Change and Sustainable Development," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(5), pages 999-1027, September.
    28. Benjamin Richardson, 2009. "Keeping Ethical Investment Ethical: Regulatory Issues for Investing for Sustainability," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 87(4), pages 555-572, July.
    29. Vasja Roblek & Oshane Thorpe & Mirjana Pejic Bach & Andrej Jerman & Maja Meško, 2020. "The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Sustainability Practices: A Comparative Automated Content Analysis Approach of Theory and Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-27, October.
    30. Di Vaio, Assunta & Palladino, Rosa & Pezzi, Alberto & Kalisz, David E., 2021. "The role of digital innovation in knowledge management systems: A systematic literature review," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 220-231.
    31. Yosef Jabareen, 2008. "A New Conceptual Framework for Sustainable Development," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 10(2), pages 179-192, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jiajia Liu & Kexin Zhou & Ye Zhang & Fangcheng Tang, 2023. "The Effect of Financial Digital Transformation on Financial Performance: The Intermediary Effect of Information Symmetry and Operating Costs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-22, March.
    2. Jonathan P. Binaluyo & Angelo R. Santos & Noel B. Agustin, 2024. "Challenges and Opportunities for Digital Transformation in Philippine Microfinance Institutions," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 14(5), pages 269-278, September.
    3. Minu Gupta & Ravi Kiran, 2024. "Sectoral Comparison of Sustainable Digital Financial Inclusion of Women Workforce with the Mediation of Digital Banking Adoption Intention: An Empirical Analysis," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, June.

    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. Guandalini, Ilaria, 2022. "Sustainability through digital transformation: A systematic literature review for research guidance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 456-471.
    2. R. V. Naveenan & Chee Yoong Liew & Ploypailin Kijkasiwat, 2024. "Nexus Between Financial Inclusion, Digital Inclusion and Health Outcomes: Evidence from Developing Economies," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 174(1), pages 367-408, August.
    3. Adugna, Hailu, 2024. "Fintech dividend: How would digital financial services impact income inequality across countries?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    4. Banna, Hasanul & Mia, Md Aslam & Nourani, Mohammad & Yarovaya, Larisa, 2022. "Fintech-based Financial Inclusion and Risk-taking of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs): Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    5. Damane, Moeti & Ho, Sin-Yu, 2024. "Effects of financial inclusion on financial stability: evidence from ssa countries," MPRA Paper 120238, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. P. K. Priyan & Wakara Ibrahimu Nyabakora & Geofrey Rwezimula, 2023. "A bibliometric review of the knowledge base on financial inclusion," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(2), pages 1-21, February.
    7. 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).
    8. Wang, Rui & Luo, Hang (Robin), 2022. "How does financial inclusion affect bank stability in emerging economies?," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(PA).
    9. Bencsik, Barbara & Palmié, Maximilian & Parida, Vinit & Wincent, Joakim & Gassmann, Oliver, 2023. "Business models for digital sustainability: Framework, microfoundations of value capture, and empirical evidence from 130 smart city services," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    10. Pandey, Dharen Kumar & Hassan, M.Kabir & Kumari, Vineeta & Zaied, Younes Ben & Rai, Varun Kumar, 2024. "Mapping the landscape of FinTech in banking and finance: A bibliometric review," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(PA).
    11. Banna, Hasanul & Kabir Hassan, M. & Rashid, Mamunur, 2021. "Fintech-based financial inclusion and bank risk-taking: Evidence from OIC countries," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    12. Claudiu George Bocean & Anca Antoaneta Vărzaru, 2023. "EU countries’ digital transformation, economic performance, and sustainability analysis," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, December.
    13. Bejjani, Melissa & Göcke, Lutz & Menter, Matthias, 2023. "Digital entrepreneurial ecosystems: A systematic literature review," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    14. Teresa Riso & Carla Morrone, 2023. "To Align Technological Advancement and Ethical Conduct: An Analysis of the Relationship between Digital Technologies and Sustainable Decision-Making Processes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, January.
    15. Paula Cruz‐García & María del Carmen Dircio Palacios Macedo & Emili Tortosa‐Ausina, 2021. "Financial inclusion and exclusion across Mexican municipalities," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(5), pages 1496-1526, October.
    16. Damane, Moeti & Ho, Sin-Yu, 2024. "The impact of financial inclusion on financial stability: review of theories and international evidence," MPRA Paper 120369, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Zahid Sarwar & Jingmei Gao & Adnan Khan, 2024. "Nexus of digital platforms, innovation capability, and strategic alignment to enhance innovation performance in the Asia Pacific region: a dynamic capability perspective," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 41(2), pages 867-901, June.
    18. Choudhary, Priya & Thenmozhi, M., 2024. "Fintech and financial sector: ADO analysis and future research agenda," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    19. Chin, Tachia & Shi, Yi & Singh, Sanjay Kumar & Agbanyo, George Kwame & Ferraris, Alberto, 2022. "Leveraging blockchain technology for green innovation in ecosystem-based business models: A dynamic capability of values appropriation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    20. Sascha Fuerst & Odille Sanchez-Dominguez & Miguel Angel Rodriguez-Montes, 2023. "The Role of Digital Technology within the Business Model of Sustainable Entrepreneurship," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2022:i:1:p:207-:d:1012346. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.