Assessing applications of emerging technologies in a data-driven era of sustainability and challenges

This editorial highlights how emerging technologies and data-driven solutions can foster sustainability and address the current global challenges. Fourteen articles form the core of this Special Issue, analyzing diverse applications of advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms in domains such as supply chain optimization, sustainable entrepreneurship, algorithmic trading, financial inclusion, and e-governance. Each contribution underscores the transformative potential of these innovations to reduce resource consumption, enhance operational efficiencies, and yield significant social and environmental benefits. Major obstacles also emerge, ranging from limited infrastructure and ambiguous regulatory environments to ethical concerns over data privacy and algorithmic bias, which can impede the success of technology-driven interventions. The findings highlight multidisciplinary perspectives to demonstrate how collaborative efforts between industry, academia, and policymakers enable the development of context-specific and ethically sound strategies. The studies in this Special Issue move beyond mere technological performance metrics, emphasizing instead the broader societal implications that arise when disruptive innovations are introduced. Further research is needed to investigate the scalability of these solutions, ensure equitable access to data-driven tools, and integrate comprehensive ethical guidelines. The insights presented as the result of the papers that composed the Special Issue reveal the pivotal role of emerging technologies in shaping a resilient, inclusive, and truly sustainable future, illustrating how responsible innovation can address the current environmental and social challenges.