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Digital Transformation Barriers In French Service Smes – A Research Tax Credit Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Salma Zouaoui
  • Ioana Filipas
  • Punita Raj
  • François Marmier
  • Bertrand Rose

Abstract

This study investigates the barriers to Digital Transformation (DT) in French service SMEs. As literature on DT of service SMEs is scarce, this study uses a combination of a literature review analysis of barriers to DT in SMEs and a thematic analysis of the challenges to DT encountered by 26 service SMEs. The research identifies six main categories of barriers: technological barriers, business and strategic barriers, process and operational barriers, organizational barriers, human and talent barriers and security and compliance barriers. This paper highlights that service SMEs highly underestimate the barriers related to human and talent barriers and slightly underestimate organizational barriers while overestimating business and strategic barriers. This paper emphasizes the inadequacy of existing DT strategies designed for larger corporations and raises the need for research in the DT of service sector and particularly of service SMEs. The study also discusses the potential biases inherent in the data collection from reports intended for tax administration and the limitations of the sample size.

Suggested Citation

  • Salma Zouaoui & Ioana Filipas & Punita Raj & François Marmier & Bertrand Rose, 2024. "Digital Transformation Barriers In French Service Smes – A Research Tax Credit Perspective," Working Papers of BETA 2024-49, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    • Handle: RePEc:ulp:sbbeta:2024-49
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marie-Anne Le-Dain & Lamiae Benhayoun & Judy Matthews & Marine Liard, 2023. "Barriers and opportunities of digital servitization for SMEs: the effect of smart Product-Service System business models," Post-Print hal-04811415, HAL.
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    4. Aina Oluwakemi Ifeoluwa & Aime Privat Uwitonze & Lazar Rusu, 2022. "Barriers in Digital Transformation in a Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria," International Journal of Innovation in the Digital Economy (IJIDE), IGI Global, vol. 13(1), pages 1-17, January.
    5. Marie-Anne Le-Dain & Lamiae Benhayoun & Judy Matthews & Marine Liard, 2023. "Barriers and opportunities of digital servitization for SMEs: the effect of smart Product-Service System business models," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 17(1), pages 359-393, March.
    6. Ramona Rupeika-Apoga & Kristine Petrovska, 2022. "Barriers to Sustainable Digital Transformation in Micro-, Small-, and Medium-Sized Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-19, October.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • L8 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services
    • L80 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - General
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General

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