Data Analytics in Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)

Abstract

Data Analytics in small and medium enterprise (SME) is an emerging area of research and practice. Despite of growing importance of SME and increasing research in data analytics, the existing literature lacks an integrated view of the phenomena. To bridge this gap, a systematic literature review of 42 published research studies from peer-reviewed journals from 2010-2021, related to data analytics and SME is performed. After classification, categorisation, and synthesis, four broad themes are addressed namely enabling factors, restraining factors, investing SMEs and performance indicators. Further, research gaps identified thrust research areas and insights for future research directions are presented.

Complementary and contingent value of SMEs' data capability and supply chain capability in the competitive environment

“…An SME has limited opportunities to change its environment and must adapt to find new means to cope with competition. It is essential we understand the conditions that foster an SME's ability to establish a competitive advantage based on its data-related capabilities (Bhardwaj, 2022). The results of this study show that those SMEs that are able to manage their supply chains in a competitive environment have greater potential to operate effectively.…”

“…What is not yet fully understood is when and how data capability creates value for SMEs in the form of improved operational performance. Most research on data capability and digitalization has focused on larger firms (Bhardwaj, 2022; Chatterjee et al ., 2022; Eller et al ., 2020) and excluded the effect of competition, which is regarded as an external and determinant contingency factor. Accordingly, the current research applied principles from an emerging research framework, the contingent RBV (Brandon-Jones et al ., 2014; Brush and Artz, 1999; Cao et al ., 2011; Gupta et al ., 2018; Jeble et al ., 2018; Wiengarten et al ., 2013) to understand and evaluate both the complementary and contingent effects of data capability and SCC on SMEs' operational performance in a competitive environment.…”

“…Prior research indicates that the environment impacts firms' digitalization (Parviainen et al ., 2017) and SMEs' ability to benefit from their data capability (Bhardwaj, 2022). Those findings prompted the inclusion of the contingency perspective of RBV in the second research question: “How do those antecedents affect operational performance in a competitive context?” This research question moved the focus on to the environment in which data capability and SCC are used.…”

“…It is assumed that the positive impact of data capability on operational performance is channeled through its complementary relation with SCC; thus, SCC enhances the positive performance impact of data capability. Further, an SME's operating environment affects digitalization (Parviainen et al ., 2017) and the extent to which it can benefit from data-related capabilities (Bhardwaj, 2022). Prior research has established that contextual factors affect the evaluation of data capability's effects; hence such factors are increasingly included in research models examining data-based value (e.g.…”

“…However, the understanding of when and how data capability creates value remains limited (e.g. Chatterjee et al ., 2022; Li, 2022), particularly with regard to SMEs (Bhardwaj, 2022; Cappa et al ., 2021). This study is an attempt to redress that knowledge gap and extend the understanding of digitalization from the data capability perspective in the context of SMEs.…”