“Is It Hype or Reality?”

Abstract

The researchers commenced this study expecting to discover ample evidence of global digitalization – especially attributed to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Yet, the investigation using multiple highly credible indicators of digitalization for a period of 3 years (2018 to 2020), covering pre, during, and post-pandemic, the researchers could only identify partial evidence of a high rate of digitalization, and many of the countries slowed down their respective rates of digitalization. This study showed that only 61 of sampled countries demonstrated a high rate of digitalization, while the 96 remaining countries slowed down their digitalization rates. Considering the purported ‘hype of digitalization' spreading across the globe, notwithstanding the boundaries of geography and resources, the researchers appeal to academia and practice to witness the authentic indicators of digitalization in this global study.