Digital transformation or digital divide? Smes' use of AI during global crisis
通过对伦敦15家餐饮中小企业的深度访谈，研究了疫情期间促进或阻碍数字化转型的因素，以及这些因素如何影响数字鸿沟的扩大或缩小。
There is a notable deficiency in empirical research examining how digital transformation, particularly through the adoption of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), can empower SMEs to navigate the challenges posed by global crises. While new technologies are frequently regarded as solutions, they can coexist with existing systems and potentially exacerbate the digital divide. This paper aims to investigate the factors that either facilitate or hinder digital transformation among SMEs and their impact on either bridging or widening the digital divide. To explore this issue, we employed a maximum variation sampling method and conducted 15 in-depth interviews with SMEs in the restaurant sector – encompassing small, medium, and large establishments – in London. Our findings indicate that technological factors (such as digital inertia), organisational aspects (including perceptions and collaboration), and external environmental influences (like lockdown measures) are critical in determining the extent of digital transformation or the continuation of the digital divide among SMEs during the pandemic. This paper contributes to understanding the interrelationships among innovative technologies, including AI, SMEs, and their external environments in the context of rapid digital transformation. It underscores the adverse effects of technology adoption on the equitable distribution of innovative practices and provides insights into promoting inclusive digital transformation to mitigate the digital divide among SMEs.