Beyond Technology: Strategies for Managing Digital Transformation in Traditional Sectors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61978/novatio.v2i1.998Keywords:
Digital Transformation, Traditional Industries, Change Management Strategies, Industry 4.0, Sustainability, Organizational Adaptability, Policy FrameworksAbstract
Digital transformation has become a defining force in reshaping traditional industries, yet its successful implementation requires navigating complex technological, organizational, economic, and regulatory challenges. This study presents a narrative review aimed at synthesizing existing literature on change management strategies in digital transformation across sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and energy. Literature was collected through databases including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar, using targeted keywords such as digital transformation, traditional industries, change management strategies, Industry 4.0, and sustainability. The review analyzed empirical studies, case studies, and theoretical contributions published between 2015 and 2025. Findings reveal that technologies like artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, blockchain, and digital twin systems enhance operational efficiency and sustainability but face barriers related to resource constraints, cultural resistance, and fragmented regulatory frameworks. Organizational factors, particularly leadership vision and employee skills development, emerge as central to overcoming resistance and enabling adoption. Economic disparities between large firms and SMEs remain a significant challenge, while supportive public policies and international regulatory harmonization play critical roles in facilitating progress. The discussion highlights systemic social, economic, and political influences on digital adoption and underscores the importance of continuous training, public-private partnerships, and adaptive policies as strategies to address persistent challenges. The study concludes that digital transformation is both a technological and socio-economic imperative, requiring coordinated strategies and context-sensitive approaches to achieve sustainable and inclusive outcomes.
References
Almashhour, R., Al-Mhdawi, M., Daghfous, A., Qazi, A., & Udechukwu, U. (2025). Traditional to sustainable risk management in the construction industry: a systematic literature review. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijmpb-01-2025-0021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMPB-01-2025-0021
Amer, M., Radwhi, A., Ali, A., & Ali, A. (2022). An integrated digital collaborative work environment for drilling. https://doi.org/10.2523/iptc-22546-ea DOI: https://doi.org/10.2523/IPTC-22546-EA
Ávila-Gutiérrez, M., Roldán, A., Morato-Huerta, P., & Lama-Ruiz, J. (2025). Modernizing small and medium-sized enterprises: a lean audit model for digital integration. Systems, 13(4), 304. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13040304 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13040304
Bai, S., Tan, Y., Han, C., Yang, M., Gupta, B., Arya, V., … & Kumar, N. (2024). Unveiling the evolution of enterprise digital innovation strategies: insights from U.S.-listed companies' annual reports. IEEE Transactions on Computational Social Systems, 11(6), 8243-8256. https://doi.org/10.1109/tcss.2024.3360040 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TCSS.2024.3360040
Balashova, E. & Maiorova, K. (2021). Transforming industrial value creation in aspect of sustainable technology digitalization. E3S Web of Conferences, 258, 12006. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202125812006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202125812006
Barile, D., Secundo, G., & Vecchio, P. (2022). Food 4.0 for competing during the COVID-19 pandemic: experimenting digitalization in family firms. European Journal of Innovation Management, 27(4), 1381-1402. https://doi.org/10.1108/ejim-07-2022-0373 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-07-2022-0373
Borowski, P. (2021). Digitization, digital twins, blockchain, and industry 4.0 as elements of management process in enterprises in the energy sector. Energies, 14(7), 1885. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14071885 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en14071885
Charles, V. & Emrouznejad, A. (2018). Big data for the greater good: an introduction, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93061-9_1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93061-9_1
Coleman, S., Göb, R., Manco, G., Pievatolo, A., Tort‐Martorell, X., & Reis, M. (2016). How can SMEs benefit from big data? Challenges and a path forward. Quality and Reliability Engineering International, 32(6), 2151-2164. https://doi.org/10.1002/qre.2008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/qre.2008
Cosa, M. & Torelli, R. (2024). Digital transformation and flexible performance management: a systematic literature review of the evolution of performance measurement systems. Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, 25(3), 445-466. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40171-024-00409-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40171-024-00409-9
Damian, A., Piciu, L., Turlea, S., & Țăpuș, N. (2019). Advanced customer activity prediction based on deep hierarchic encoder-decoders, 403-409. https://doi.org/10.1109/cscs.2019.00074 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/CSCS.2019.00074
Fang, I., Chen, P., Chiu, H., Lin, C., & Su, F. (2020). Establishing the digital transformation strategies for the med-tech enterprises based on the AIA-NRM approach. Applied Sciences, 10(21), 7574. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10217574 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app10217574
Gallese, C., Falletti, E., Nobile, M., Ferrario, L., Schettini, F., & Foglia, E. (2020). Preventing litigation with a predictive model of COVID-19 ICUs occupancy, 2111-2116. https://doi.org/10.1109/bigdata50022.2020.9378295 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/BigData50022.2020.9378295
Ghobakhloo, M. & Iranmanesh, M. (2021). Digital transformation success under industry 4.0: a strategic guideline for manufacturing SMEs. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 32(8), 1533-1556. https://doi.org/10.1108/jmtm-11-2020-0455 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-11-2020-0455
Iftikhar, H., Riaz, A., Nazir, N., Noreen, S., & Khan, M. (2025). Transforming business in the digital age using artificial intelligence (AI), 153-174. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-6386-7.ch007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-6386-7.ch007
Iftikhar, R. & Khan, M. (2022). Social media big data analytics for demand forecasting, 902-920. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-3662-2.ch042 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-3662-2.ch042
Iglesias, I., Marinich, J., Anechina, L., Cortés, M., & Domínguez, A. (2024). Understanding the national healthcare ecosystem to position medical affairs as a strategic element: lessons learned from AstraZeneca Spain. Pharmaceutical Medicine, 39(1), 39-50. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40290-024-00542-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40290-024-00542-x
Jin, K., Zhong, Z., & Zhao, E. (2024). Sustainable digital marketing under big data: an AI random forest model approach. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 71, 3566-3579. https://doi.org/10.1109/tem.2023.3348991 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2023.3348991
Kanat, G., Yang, Z., Wang, C., Akbar, I., & Mominov, S. (2024). Evaluation of competitiveness of e-commerce websites in Kazakhstan. Sustainability, 16(24), 10972. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162410972 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su162410972
Kumar, V., Vijayakumar, V., Gupta, M., Rodrigues, J., & Janu, N. (2022). AI empowered big data analytics for industrial applications. JUCS - Journal of Universal Computer Science, 28(9), 877-881. https://doi.org/10.3897/jucs.94155 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jucs.94155
Lee, J., Azamfar, M., Singh, J., & Siahpour, S. (2020). Integration of digital twin and deep learning in cyber‐physical systems: towards smart manufacturing. IET Collaborative Intelligent Manufacturing, 2(1), 34-36. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-cim.2020.0009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-cim.2020.0009
Lee, J., Tin, S., & Gunawan, J. (2024). Sustainable transformation in China’s agricultural sector: from traditional narrow patterns to smart dynamic production. Foresight and STI Governance, 18(3), 6-15. https://doi.org/10.17323/2500-2597.2024.3.6.15 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17323/2500-2597.2024.3.6.15
Luo, J., Huang, M., Bai, Y., & Li, J. (2023). Supply chain management during a public health emergency of international concern: a bibliometric and content analysis. Processes, 11(3), 713. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11030713 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11030713
Papí-Gálvez, N., Ruiz, A., & Berna, S. (2020). Digital transformation in the advertising industry from a gender perspective: an analysis of the top agencies. El Profesional De La Información, 29(3). https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2020.may.23 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2020.may.23
Pezzotta, G., Arioli, V., Adrodegari, F., Rapaccini, M., Saccani, N., Rakić, S., … & Gaiardelli, P. (2022). Digital servitization in the manufacturing sector: survey preliminary results, 310-320. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-16411-8_37 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-16411-8_37
Pezzotta, G., Arioli, V., Adrodegari, F., Rapaccini, M., Saccani, N., Rakić, S., … & Gaiardelli, P. (2023). The digital servitization of manufacturing sector: evidence from a worldwide digital servitization survey, 165-180. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43666-6_12 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43666-6_12
Proto, S., Corso, E., Apiletti, D., Cagliero, L., Cerquitelli, T., Malnati, G., … & Mazzucchi, D. (2020). REDTAG: a predictive maintenance framework for parcel delivery services. IEEE Access, 8, 14953-14964. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2020.2966568 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.2966568
Samantaray, R. (2023). ADAS sensor data handling in the world of autonomous mobility. https://doi.org/10.4271/2023-01-0993 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4271/2023-01-0993
Saragih, S., Ginting, H., Tjakraatmadja, J., & Pratama, A. (2025). Decent work in the digital context: scale development and validation. Business Strategy & Development, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/bsd2.70058 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bsd2.70058
Schöggl, J., Rusch, M., Stumpf, L., & Baumgartner, R. (2023). Implementation of digital technologies for a circular economy and sustainability management in the manufacturing sector. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 35, 401-420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2022.11.012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2022.11.012
Sharma, V., Jamwal, A., Agrawal, R., & Pratap, S. (2024). A review on digital transformation in healthcare waste management: applications, research trends and implications. Waste Management & Research, 43(6), 828-849. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242x241285420 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X241285420
Sia, W., Ahmad, Z., Muhamad, S., Ali, A., & Hamdan, H. (2024). Effective risk management through data-driven HSE assurance program for safe execution project delivery. https://doi.org/10.2118/221994-ms DOI: https://doi.org/10.2118/221994-MS
Silva, C., Borges, A., & Magano, J. (2021). Quality control 4.0: a way to improve the quality performance and engage shop floor operators. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 39(6), 1471-1487. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijqrm-05-2021-0138 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-05-2021-0138
Sjøbakk, B. (2018). The strategic landscape of industry 4.0, 122-127. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99707-0_16 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99707-0_16
Steiber, A. & Alvarez, D. (2024). AI-driven digital business ecosystems: a study of Haier's EMCs. European Journal of Innovation Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/ejim-01-2024-0076 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-01-2024-0076
Taifa, I. & Nzowa, J. (2025). Implementing supply chain management 4.0: potential driving forces and strategies from an empirical study of pharmaceutical industries. Engineering Reports, 7(6). https://doi.org/10.1002/eng2.70190 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/eng2.70190
TRIPOLI, M. & SCHMIDHUBER, J. (2020). Optimising traceability in trade for live animals and animal products with digital technologies. Revue Scientifique et Technique de l’OIE, 39(1), 235-244. https://doi.org/10.20506/rst.39.1.3076 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20506/rst.39.1.3076
Trstenjak, M., Opetuk, T., Cajner, H., & Tošanović, N. (2020). Process planning in industry 4.0—current state, potential and management of transformation. Sustainability, 12(15), 5878. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12155878 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12155878
Ulez’ko, A., РЕЙМЕР, В., & Ulezko, O. (2019). Theoretical and methodological aspects of digitalization in agriculture. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 274(1), 012062. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/274/1/012062 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/274/1/012062
Vijayalakshmi, A. & Morarji, A. (2025). Digital transformation and its effect on the retail and manufacturing industries in Tamil Nadu. International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Scope, 06(02), 1196-1204. https://doi.org/10.47857/irjms.2025.v06i02.03836 DOI: https://doi.org/10.47857/irjms.2025.v06i02.03836
Volberda, H., Khanagha, S., Baden‐Fuller, C., Mihalache, O., & Birkinshaw, J. (2021). Strategizing in a digital world: overcoming cognitive barriers, reconfiguring routines and introducing new organizational forms. Long Range Planning, 54(5), 102110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2021.102110 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2021.102110
Zhang, Y. & Yao, L. (2021). How the leading Chinese real estate brokerage transformed into a digital platform business. Strategy and Leadership, 50(1), 19-24. https://doi.org/10.1108/sl-10-2021-0107 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/SL-10-2021-0107
