Digital tools in SMEs: A systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23523571Keywords:
commercial activity, digital tools, SMEsAbstract
Digital transformation has become a key factor in the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as it integrates technological tools into their commercial, administrative, financial, and operational activities. To better understand this dynamic, this systematic review aimed to identify the digital tools used by SMEs, based on scientific literature published between 2017 and 2026. The study followed the PRISMA 2020 methodology, with searches conducted across the Scopus, Dimensions, and OpenAlex databases, covering scientific articles in both Spanish and English. The results reveal a wide range of tools, most notably e-commerce, social media, digital marketing, artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), digital payments, fintech solutions, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and cybersecurity. These technologies were categorized into four business functions: marketing and customers; management and decision-making; operations and infrastructure; and finance and security. In conclusion, digital tools span various areas of SME management and, in many cases, serve complementary functions. However, their adoption depends on factors such as the availability of financial resources, technological infrastructure, and the digital competencies of the organizations.
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