IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i4p1550-d1337766.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Digitization as an Adaptation and Resilience Measure for MSMEs amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: Lessons from the Food Service Industry for Collaborative Future Engagements

Author

Listed:
  • Tomo Kawane

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University (SFC), 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-shi 252-0882, Kanagawa, Japan)

  • Bismark Adu-Gyamfi

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University (SFC), 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-shi 252-0882, Kanagawa, Japan)

  • Yuqiu Cao

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University (SFC), 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-shi 252-0882, Kanagawa, Japan)

  • Yinjia Zhang

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University (SFC), 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-shi 252-0882, Kanagawa, Japan)

  • Nanami Yamazawa

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University (SFC), 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-shi 252-0882, Kanagawa, Japan)

  • Zuquan He

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University (SFC), 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-shi 252-0882, Kanagawa, Japan)

  • Rajib Shaw

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University (SFC), 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-shi 252-0882, Kanagawa, Japan)

Abstract

Restrictions and other stringent countermeasures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have wreaked havoc on many enterprises over the past few years. The effect on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is believed to be far-reaching. In most countries, the MSME sector provides the maximum number of jobs, and its resilience is core to the livelihood of that society; Japan is no exception to this. The food service industry was classified as an essential service during the pandemic, and advancements in technology and other digital innovations were seen as revolutionary to many enterprises to diversify their business models to reduce losses. This study reviews how MSMEs in the food service industry utilized technologies and innovations to adapt to the challenges and enhance their resilience. The paper reviews secondary datasets to discuss the perspectives of MSMEs and the impact of the pandemic, as well as utilizing Gotanda Eats as a case example in Japan to understand the method of digital adaption towards resilience. The Gotanda Eats platform was crucial for the survival of the five restaurants involved because it transformed their old business operations into the one that connects them to customers while observing infection prevention protocols. Despite the challenges that are visible in the delivery aspect of the platform, the operation shows that digitization and digital transformation are vital for MSMEs in times of crisis. The World Economic Forum 2021 report has focused on digital power concentration as a new risk, the current study shows that digitization in food-related MSMEs was a critical survival strategy. The study recommends that local authorities take a keen interest in supporting local businesses during hard times.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomo Kawane & Bismark Adu-Gyamfi & Yuqiu Cao & Yinjia Zhang & Nanami Yamazawa & Zuquan He & Rajib Shaw, 2024. "Digitization as an Adaptation and Resilience Measure for MSMEs amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: Lessons from the Food Service Industry for Collaborative Future Engagements," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:4:p:1550-:d:1337766
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/4/1550/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/4/1550/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shigehiro Shinozaki & Lakshman N. Rao, 2021. "COVID-19 Impact on Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises under the Lockdown: Evidence from a Rapid Survey in the Philippines," ADBI Working Papers 1216, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    2. Dai, Ruochen & Feng, Hao & Hu, Junpeng & Jin, Quan & Li, Huiwen & Wang, Ranran & Wang, Ruixin & Xu, Lihe & Zhang, Xiaobo, 2021. "The impact of COVID-19 on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): Evidence from two-wave phone surveys in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Paul Belleflamme & Muxin Li & Anaïs Périlleux, 2025. "Sharing Economy Platforms in the Face of Crises: A Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-21, July.

    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. Chen, Yutong & Debnath, Sisir & Sekhri, Sheetal & Sekhri, Vishal, 2023. "The impact of Covid-19 containment lockdowns on MSMEs in India and resilience of exporting firms," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 320-341.
    2. Dong, Zhanyu & Cai, Jiayi & Li, Xuchao & Luan, Mengna, 2025. "Firm-level impacts and recovery dynamics following a public health crisis: Lessons from China’s SARS experience," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    3. Marina Yu. Malkina, 2021. "How the 2020 pandemic affected tax revenues in Russian regions?," Equilibrium. Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 16(2), pages 239-260, June.
    4. Chen, Xi & Qiu, Yun & Shi, Wei & Yu, Pei, 2022. "Key links in network interactions: Assessing route-specific travel restrictions in China during the Covid-19 pandemic," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    5. Anna Spoz & Ilona Skibinska-Fabrowska & Grzegorz Kotlinski & Helena Zukowska, 2021. "The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Financial Performance of Public Companies in Poland," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4 - Part ), pages 955-976.
    6. Yang, Song, 2022. "Are private equity and venture capital helping small and medium-sized enterprises during the COVID-19 pandemic? Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 1-14.
    7. repec:ers:journl:v:xxiv:y:2021:i:4:p:955-976 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Antonio Jr Estrada Etrata & Jackie Lou Raborar, 2022. "The Filipino generation Z’s entrepreneurial intention: What drives their business mindedness?," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 11(2), pages 57-66, March.
    9. Anu Sharma & Ashima Tiwari & Neha Singh, 2024. "Social Platform: Key to Market Innovation for Indian Artisans—A Case Study of Chanderi Cluster," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 10(1), pages 84-96, January.
    10. Aneta Włodarczyk & Agata Mesjasz-Lech, 2021. "Ecological and Economic Context of Managing Enterprises That Are Particularly Harmful to the Environment and the Well-Being of Society," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-24, May.
    11. Uma Shankar Yadav & Ravindra Tripathi & Mano Ashish Tripathi, 2022. "Adverse impact of lockdown during COVID-19 pandemic on micro-small and medium enterprises (Indian handicraft sector): A study on highlighted exit strategies and important determinants," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, December.
    12. Zengdong Cao & Qin Tu & Nichola Latoya Williams, 2024. "E‐commerce, Pandemic Shock, and the Survival of Small and Medium Enterprises," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 32(5), pages 113-139, September.
    13. Zhu, Jun & Ho, Kung-Cheng & Luo, Sijia & Peng, Langchuan, 2023. "Pandemic and tax avoidance: Cross-country evidence," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    14. Chiara Franco & Filomena Pietrovito, 2024. "Drivers of firms’ digital activities in response to the Covid-19 pandemic," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 14(3), pages 695-726, September.
    15. Wenjin Long & Junxia Zeng & Tongquan Sun, 2021. "Who Lost Most Wages and Household Income during the COVID‐19 Pandemic in Poor Rural China?," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 29(6), pages 95-116, November.
    16. Hyun Son, 2022. "The Distributional Impacts of Fiscal Policy: The Case of the Philippines," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 662, Asian Development Bank.
    17. Yun Cheng & Sha Fang & Jie Yin, 2022. "The effects of community safety support on COVID‐19 event strength perception, risk perception, and health tourism intention: The moderating role of risk communication," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(2), pages 496-509, March.
    18. Dastan Aseinov & Burulcha Sulaimanova & Kamalbek Karymshakov & Dina Azhgaliyeva, 2022. "What Determines the Adaptation of Enterprises to COVID-19 in CAREC Member Countries: Empirical Evidence from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia," ADBI Working Papers 1299, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    19. Paulina Pukin-Sowul & Aleksandra Ostrowska, 2021. "The COVID-19 pandemic and Polandb," Zeszyty Naukowe Małopolskiej Wyższej Szkoły Ekonomicznej w Tarnowie / The Malopolska School of Economics in Tarnow Research Papers Collection, Malopolska School of Economics in Tarnow, vol. 51(3), pages 47-59, September.
    20. Apol Pribadi Subriadi & Shinta Amalia Kusuma Wardhani, 2022. "Survivability Scenario of SMEs in Facing COVID-19 Crisis Based on the Social Commerce Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-24, March.
    21. Le Tang & Jun Zhang & Jim Huangnan Shen, 2024. "Capital misallocation in Chinese industrial firms," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 71(1), pages 75-100, February.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:4:p:1550-:d:1337766. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.