International Journal of

ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES

EISSN: 2313-3724, Print ISSN: 2313-626X

Frequency: 12

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 Volume 12, Issue 6 (June 2025), Pages: 223-233

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 Original Research Paper

Digital transformation and sustainable business growth: Evidence from SMEs in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta

 Author(s): 

 Luu Tien Thuan 1, *, Nguyen Thi Tam 1, Nguyen Thu Nha Trang 1, Le Thi Thu Trang 1, Khuu Ngoc Huyen 1, Nguyen Thu Huong 2

 Affiliation(s):

  1School of Economics, Can Tho University, Can Tho City, Vietnam
  2Department of English Language, Lac Hong University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

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 * Corresponding Author. 

   Corresponding author's ORCID profile:  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1513-3362

 Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2025.06.022

 Abstract

Digital transformation is increasingly recognized as a key driver of sustainable business development and effective change management in today’s economy. This study examines the factors influencing digital transformation decisions among trade and service firms in Can Tho City, a major economic hub in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. By combining the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework and the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory with principles of sustainable business, the study adopts a quantitative approach using survey data from 187 enterprises. The results identify seven key factors affecting digital transformation: relative advantage, organizational readiness, competitive pressure, government support, compatibility, managerial support, and pressure from partners and consumers. Among these, relative advantage is the most influential driver, while partner and consumer pressure have a negative impact, reflecting the challenges small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face in adapting to change with limited resources. This study contributes to both theory and practice by offering a comprehensive framework for understanding digital transformation in the context of sustainable development. It provides valuable insights for policymakers and business leaders in emerging economies, emphasizing the importance of aligning technological change with sustainable business practices through effective change management strategies.

 © 2025 The Authors. Published by IASE.

 This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

 Keywords

 Digital transformation, Sustainable development, Emerging economies, Technology adoption, Change management

 Article history

 Received 12 February 2025, Received in revised form 28 May 2025, Accepted 4 June 2025

 Funding

This study is funded in part by the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam (MOET), grant number B2023-TCT-20. 

 Acknowledgment

We thank the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam (MOET) for providing funding to enable me to conduct this research (B2023-TCT-20). 

 Compliance with ethical standards

 Ethical considerations

This study was conducted in accordance with ethical standards applicable to research involving human participants. All respondents were informed of the purpose of the study and participated voluntarily. Anonymity and confidentiality were guaranteed, and no personally identifiable information was collected or disclosed.

 Conflict of interest: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

 Citation:

 Thuan LT, Tam NT, Trang NTN, Trang LTT, Huyen KN, and Huong NT (2025). Digital transformation and sustainable business growth: Evidence from SMEs in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 12(6): 223-233

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 Figures

  Fig. 1  Fig. 2

 Tables

  Table 1  Table 2 

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