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How Does Digital Transformation Facilitate Enterprise Total Factor Productivity? The Multiple Mediators of Supplier Concentration and Customer Concentration

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  • Hua Zhang

    (Sunwah International Business School, Faculty of Economics, Liaoning University, Shenyang 100136, China)

  • Qiwang Zhang

    (Business School, Faculty of Economics, Liaoning University, Shenyang 100136, China)

Abstract

Nowadays, no organization or sector is immune to the influences of digital transformation. It has been generally recognized as a significant promoter of corporate efficiency and effectiveness. However, the literature on whether and how digital transformation can facilitate corporate total factor productivity is scarce. In this case, this paper aims to empirically investigate whether and how digital transformation can boost a firm’s total factor productivity. Using a sample of Chinese listed companies from 2007–2020 and structural equation model analyses in STATA 16.0, this paper identifies that (1) digital technology, one dimension of digital transformation, has no significant effects on enterprise total factor productivity, while digital application, the other dimension of digital transformation, can directly enhance enterprise total factor productivity; (2) both digital technology and digital application can indirectly boost enterprise total factor productivity through the decreasing of supplier concentration; and (3) digital technology adversely affects enterprise total factor productivity through the increasing of customer concentration, and digital application may positively affect enterprise total factor productivity through the decreasing of customer concentration. Our study is one of the first to explore the mediating effect mechanism of the relationship between digital transformation and enterprise total factor productivity from the perspective of supply chain management.

Suggested Citation

  • Hua Zhang & Qiwang Zhang, 2023. "How Does Digital Transformation Facilitate Enterprise Total Factor Productivity? The Multiple Mediators of Supplier Concentration and Customer Concentration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:1896-:d:1040592
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    Cited by:

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    2. Sen Wang & Jinye Li, 2023. "Does Digital Transformation Promote Green and Low-Carbon Synergistic Development in Enterprises? A Dynamic Analysis Based on the Perspective of Chinese Listed Enterprises in the Heavy Pollution Indust," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-22, November.
    3. Meixuan Zhang & Zongsheng Huang, 2024. "The Impact of Digital Transformation on ESG Performance: The Role of Supply Chain Resilience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-20, September.
    4. Guoen Xia & Zenghui Yu & Xuwu Peng, 2023. "How Does Enterprise Digital Transformation Affect Total Factor Productivity? Based on the Information Intermediary Role of Analysts’ Attention," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-22, May.
    5. Wang, Jie & Wang, Jun, 2024. "“Booster” or “Obstacle”: Can digital transformation improve energy efficiency? Firm-level evidence from China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 296(C).

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