IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/cwk/ajocsk/2026-99.html

Assessing Challenges in the Adoption of Digital Technologies for Automated Billing Systems by SMEs in Lusaka District

Author

Listed:
  • Kashipe, Juliet

    (Graduate School of Business, University of Zambia)

  • Kapotwe, Euston

    (Graduate School of Business, University of Zambia)

Abstract

This study assessed the challenges in the adoption of digital technologies for automated billing systems among ICT Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Lusaka District, Zambia. The purpose of the study was to examine the extent of digital technology adoption, evaluate its influence on SME competitiveness, and identify key barriers affecting its effective implementation. Specifically, the study sought to: assess the types of digital tools adopted by SMEs, examine the influence of digital technology adoption on competitiveness, and identify challenges affecting adoption among ICT SMEs. The study was guided by the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework and adopted a pragmatic paradigm using a concurrent mixed-methods design. A total of 101 participants were sampled from a population of 135 SME decision-makers, comprising 81 questionnaire respondents and 20 interview participants. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically using NVivo, with triangulation enhancing the validity of the findings. The analysis and interpretation of results revealed that digital technology adoption significantly improves SME performance and competitiveness. Key benefits included improved communication (26%), enhanced operational efficiency (22%), and cost reduction (20%). Competitiveness outcomes were most evident in improved service delivery speed and quality (34.5%), followed by cost efficiency (23.4%) and market reach (16%). Overall, 64% of SMEs reported improved business performance after adopting digital technologies, demonstrating a strong positive relationship between digital adoption and organizational effectiveness. However, the study identified several critical challenges hindering adoption, including high costs of digital tools (58%), limited technical skills (16%), employee resistance (15%), and poor internet connectivity (11%). These barriers indicate that despite the clear benefits, SMEs face structural and capacity-related constraints that limit full digital integration. The significance of the study lies in its contribution to policy, practice, and academic knowledge. It provides empirical evidence to policymakers and stakeholders on the need to promote affordable digital solutions, strengthen ICT infrastructure, and enhance digital skills development among SMEs. Additionally, the study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on digital transformation in developing economies and offers a foundation for future research on technology adoption and SME competitiveness. The study concludes that while digital technologies, particularly automated billing systems, are critical drivers of SME competitiveness and sustainability, their successful adoption depends on addressing financial, technical, and infrastructural constraints.

Suggested Citation

  • Kashipe, Juliet & Kapotwe, Euston, 2026. "Assessing Challenges in the Adoption of Digital Technologies for Automated Billing Systems by SMEs in Lusaka District," African Journal of Commercial Studies, African Journal of Commercial Studies, vol. 7(3).
    • Handle: RePEc:cwk:ajocsk:2026-99
    DOI: 10.59413/ajocs/v7.i3.29
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ijcsacademia.com/index.php/journal/article/view/544
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.59413/ajocs/v7.i3.29?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. Teemu Kautonen & Marco van Gelderen & Erno T. Tornikoski, 2013. "Predicting entrepreneurial behaviour: a test of the theory of planned behaviour," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(6), pages 697-707, February.
    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. Carlos Bazan, 2022. "Effect of the University’s Environment and Support System on Subjective Social Norms as Precursor of the Entrepreneurial Intention of Students," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, October.
    2. Prisco, Anna & Ricciardi, Irene & Percuoco, Martina & Basile, Vincenzo, 2025. "Sustainability-driven fashion: Unpacking generation Z’s second-hand clothing purchase intentions," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    3. Asante, Eric Adom & Affum-Osei, Emmanuel, 2019. "Entrepreneurship as a career choice: The impact of locus of control on aspiring entrepreneurs' opportunity recognition," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 227-235.
    4. Shashwatashish Pattnaik & Nick Mmbaga & T. Daniel White & Rhonda K. Reger, 2024. "To entrepreneur or not to entrepreneur? How identity discrepancies influence enthusiasm for academic entrepreneurship," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(4), pages 1444-1470, August.
    5. Jacob Hörisch & Jana Kollat & Steven A. Brieger, 2017. "What influences environmental entrepreneurship? A multilevel analysis of the determinants of entrepreneurs’ environmental orientation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 47-69, January.
    6. repec:idn:jimfjn:v:4:y:2018:i:1j:p:1-22 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Martin Mabunda Baluku & Florence Nansubuga & Kathleen Otto & Lisa Horn, 2021. "Risk Aversion, Entrepreneurial Attitudes, Intention and Entry Among Young People in Uganda and Germany: A Gendered Analysis," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 7(1), pages 31-59, January.
    8. Fayolle, Alain & Liñán, Francisco, 2014. "The future of research on entrepreneurial intentions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(5), pages 663-666.
    9. Tiago Botelho & Richard Harrison & Colin Mason, 2021. "Business angel exits: a theory of planned behaviour perspective," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 583-602, June.
    10. Li, Fuduo & Zhang, Kangjie & Ren, Jing & Yin, Changbin & Zhang, Yang & Nie, Jun, 2021. "Driving mechanism for farmers to adopt improved agricultural systems in China: The case of rice-green manure crops rotation system," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    11. Kim Hoe Looi & Jane E. Klobas, 2020. "Malaysian Regulative Institutional Context Moderating Entrepreneurs’ Export Intention," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 29(2), pages 395-427, September.
    12. Francesc Miralles & Ferran Giones & Brian Gozun, 2017. "Does direct experience matter? Examining the consequences of current entrepreneurial behavior on entrepreneurial intention," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 13(3), pages 881-903, September.
    13. Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih & Ibrahim A. Elshaer, 2023. "Risk-Taking, Financial Knowledge, and Risky Investment Intention: Expanding Theory of Planned Behavior Using a Moderating-Mediating Model," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-17, January.
    14. Chiara Cannavale & Giorgia Rivieccio & Lorenza Claudio & Iman Zohoorian Nadali, 2025. "The translation of latent into actual entrepreneurship: the impact of GE," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-28, December.
    15. Séverine Chevalier & Isabelle Calmé & Hélène Coillot & Karine Le Rudulier & Evelyne Fouquereau, 2022. "How Can Students' Entrepreneurial Intention Be Increased? The Role of Psychological Capital, Perceived Learning From an Entrepreneurship Education Program, Emotions and Their Relationships," Post-Print hal-03633580, HAL.
    16. Carlos Bazan, 2025. "Embedded Necessity Theorizing to Understand the Influence of the Precursors of Entrepreneurial Intention of University Students," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(4), pages 21582440251, November.
    17. Meoli, Azzurra & Fini, Riccardo & Sobrero, Maurizio & Wiklund, Johan, 2020. "How entrepreneurial intentions influence entrepreneurial career choices: The moderating influence of social context," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(3).
    18. Monika Mühlböck & Julia-Rita Warmuth & Marian Holienka & Bernhard Kittel, 2018. "Desperate entrepreneurs: no opportunities, no skills," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 975-997, December.
    19. Meqbel M. Aliedan & Ibrahim A. Elshaer & Mansour A. Alyahya & Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih, 2022. "Influences of University Education Support on Entrepreneurship Orientation and Entrepreneurship Intention: Application of Theory of Planned Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-18, October.
    20. Colin Donaldson & Francisco Liñán & Joaquin Alegre, 2021. "Entrepreneurial Intentions: Moving the Field Forwards," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 30(1), pages 30-55, March.
    21. David R. Marshall & Robert Gigliotti, 2020. "Bound for entrepreneurship? A career-theoretical perspective on entrepreneurial intentions," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 287-303, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • M15 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - IT Management
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software
    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:cwk:ajocsk:2026-99. 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: Dr. Charles G. Kamau (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://ijcsacademia.com/index.php/journal .

    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.