IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ags/ifaamr/338645.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring how EU agri-food SMEs approach technology-driven business model innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Pellegrini, Giustina
  • de Mattos, Camila Silva
  • Otter, Verena
  • Hagelaar, Geoffrey

Abstract

The EU agri-food sector, which is mainly composed of small and medium-sized enterprises has become more demanding in terms of technological inputs to reduce costs, improve the added value of food products, achieve sustainability issues, or address new market opportunities. The introduction of new technologies poses challenges for SMEs that lack the resources and time to cope with the technological transformation, which involves not only the assimilation of new technology in organizational processes but also business model innovation. In this context, this research aims to empirically explore the paths of agri-food SMEs engaged in the technological transformation process, based on the drivers and barriers, as well as the strategies used by these companies to overcome these barriers. In-depth semi-structured interviews with 14 EU agri-food SMEs were conducted and analysed using a combination of deductive pattern-matching and inductive approach. Based on similarities in terms of drivers, barriers, and strategies, seven main groups were identified to draw the paths of the technological transformation process for agri-food SMEs. Findings reveal that there is one common strategy that is adopted by all 14 companies, namely the employment of different types of partnerships and collaborations that allow companies to successfully enter new markets. The study contributes to the literature on technology transformation related to the agri-food sector, by proving insights into how EU agri-food SMEs cope with this process.

Suggested Citation

  • Pellegrini, Giustina & de Mattos, Camila Silva & Otter, Verena & Hagelaar, Geoffrey, 2022. "Exploring how EU agri-food SMEs approach technology-driven business model innovation," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 26(3), December.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:ifaamr:338645
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.338645
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/338645/files/pellegrini-et-al-2023-exploring-how-eu-agri-food-smes-approach-technology-driven-business-model-innovation.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.22004/ag.econ.338645?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ahmad Alojairi & Nadeem Akhtar & Hafizi Muhamad Ali & Abdullah F. Basiouni, 2019. "Assessing Canadian Business IT Capabilities for Online Selling Adoption: A Net-Enabled Business Innovation Cycle (NEBIC) Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Popa, Simona & Soto-Acosta, Pedro & Perez-Gonzalez, Daniel, 2018. "An investigation of the effect of electronic business on financial performance of Spanish manufacturing SMEs," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 355-362.
    3. Müller, Julian Marius & Buliga, Oana & Voigt, Kai-Ingo, 2018. "Fortune favors the prepared: How SMEs approach business model innovations in Industry 4.0," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 2-17.
    4. Alexandre Moeuf & Robert Pellerin & Samir Lamouri & Simon Tamayo-Giraldo & Rodolphe Barbaray, 2018. "The industrial management of SMEs in the era of Industry 4.0," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(3), pages 1118-1136, February.
    5. Minarelli, Francesca & Raggi, Meri & Viaggi, Davide, 2015. "Innovation in European food SMEs: determinants and links between types," Bio-based and Applied Economics Journal, Italian Association of Agricultural and Applied Economics (AIEAA), vol. 4(1), pages 1-21, April.
    6. Thuyuyen H. Nguyen & Michael Newby & Michael J. Macaulay, 2015. "Information Technology Adoption in Small Business: Confirmation of a Proposed Framework," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(1), pages 207-227, January.
    7. Müller, Julian M. & Buliga, Oana & Voigt, Kai-Ingo, 2021. "The role of absorptive capacity and innovation strategy in the design of industry 4.0 business Models - A comparison between SMEs and large enterprises," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 333-343.
    8. Laura Norris, 2020. "The spatial implications of rural business digitalization: case studies from Wales," Regional Studies, Regional Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(1), pages 499-510, January.
    9. Vranda Jain & Tavishi Tewary & Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan, 2021. "Unlocking Technology Adoption for a Robust Food Supply Chain: Evidence from Indian Food Processing Sector," HSE Economic Journal, National Research University Higher School of Economics, vol. 25(1), pages 147-164.
    10. Cosenz, Federico & Bivona, Enzo, 2021. "Fostering growth patterns of SMEs through business model innovation. A tailored dynamic business modelling approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 658-669.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yüksel, Hilmi, 2020. "An empirical evaluation of industry 4.0 applications of companies in Turkey: The case of a developing country," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    2. Ahn, Sang-Jin, 2020. "Three characteristics of technology competition by IoT-driven digitization," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    3. Paiola, Marco & Schiavone, Francesco & Khvatova, Tatiana & Grandinetti, Roberto, 2021. "Prior knowledge, industry 4.0 and digital servitization. An inductive framework," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    4. Muawia Ramadan & Tariq Amer & Bashir Salah & Mohammed Ruzayqat, 2022. "The Impact of Integration of Industry 4.0 and Internal Organizational Forces on Sustaining Competitive Advantages and Achieving Strategic Objectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-20, May.
    5. Andreea-Diana Suciu (Vodă) & Andra Ioana Maria Tudor & Ioana Bianca Chițu & Lavinia Dovleac & Gabriel Brătucu, 2021. "IoT Technologies as Instruments for SMEs’ Innovation and Sustainable Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, June.
    6. Calabrese, Armando & Costa, Roberta & Tiburzi, Luigi & Brem, Alexander, 2023. "Merging two revolutions: A human-artificial intelligence method to study how sustainability and Industry 4.0 are intertwined," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    7. Chatterjee, Sheshadri & Rana, Nripendra P. & Dwivedi, Yogesh K. & Baabdullah, Abdullah M., 2021. "Understanding AI adoption in manufacturing and production firms using an integrated TAM-TOE model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    8. Michela Piccarozzi & Barbara Aquilani & Corrado Gatti, 2018. "Industry 4.0 in Management Studies: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-24, October.
    9. Benitez, Guilherme Brittes & Ayala, Néstor Fabián & Frank, Alejandro G., 2020. "Industry 4.0 innovation ecosystems: An evolutionary perspective on value cocreation," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    10. Eslami, Mohammad H. & Achtenhagen, Leona & Bertsch, Cedric Tobias & Lehmann, Annika, 2023. "Knowledge-sharing across supply chain actors in adopting Industry 4.0 technologies: An exploratory case study within the automotive industry," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PA).
    11. Battistoni, Elisa & Gitto, Simone & Murgia, Gianluca & Campisi, Domenico, 2023. "Adoption paths of digital transformation in manufacturing SME," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    12. Veepan Kumar & Prem Vrat & Ravi Shankar, 2021. "Prioritization of strategies to overcome the barriers in Industry 4.0: a hybrid MCDM approach," OPSEARCH, Springer;Operational Research Society of India, vol. 58(3), pages 711-750, September.
    13. Mariani, Marcello & Borghi, Matteo, 2019. "Industry 4.0: A bibliometric review of its managerial intellectual structure and potential evolution in the service industries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    14. Mauricio Bedoya-Villa & Elkin Pérez-Sánchez & Hugo Baier-Fuentes & Cesar Zapata-Molina & Edith Román-Castaño, 2023. "The Effects of Dynamic Absorptive Capacity on Innovation Strategy: Evidence from SMEs in a Technological Context," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, May.
    15. Ricci, Riccardo & Battaglia, Daniele & Neirotti, Paolo, 2021. "External knowledge search, opportunity recognition and industry 4.0 adoption in SMEs," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    16. Iva Gregurec & Martina Tomičić Furjan & Katarina Tomičić-Pupek, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Sustainable Business Models in SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-24, January.
    17. Sony, Michael & Naik, Subhash, 2020. "Industry 4.0 integration with socio-technical systems theory: A systematic review and proposed theoretical model," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    18. Zahoor, Nadia & Zopiatis, Anastasios & Adomako, Samuel & Lamprinakos, Grigorios, 2023. "The micro-foundations of digitally transforming SMEs: How digital literacy and technology interact with managerial attributes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    19. Nay Chi Khin Khin Oo & Sirisuhk Rakthin, 2022. "Integrative Review of Absorptive Capacity’s Role in Fostering Organizational Resilience and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-27, October.
    20. Ghadimi, Pezhman & Donnelly, Oisin & Sar, Kubra & Wang, Chao & Azadnia, Amir Hossein, 2022. "The successful implementation of industry 4.0 in manufacturing: An analysis and prioritization of risks in Irish industry," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ags:ifaamr:338645. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: AgEcon Search (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/ifamaea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.