{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,1]],"date-time":"2026-05-01T11:11:30Z","timestamp":1777633890555,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":94,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,11,5]],"date-time":"2021-11-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1636070400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JTAER"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The recent emergence of e-commerce has brought a shifting paradigm into global markets. This revolutionary framework relying upon technological progress has conveyed a new era of commerce. More than ever, businesses are using digital marketplaces to stay relevant and competitive. Suddenly, buying online has become part of their daily routines. Accessibility, flexibility, and convenience make the internet the ideal platform for modern age consumers. Small and medium enterprises predominate in almost every industry generating employment, income, and sustainability. Nonetheless, e-commerce adoption among these organizations is yet to be widely undertaken. This article has a twofold objective: first, it gathers data regarding the emergence of e-commerce adoption by SMEs through a systematic literature review encompassing 32 indexed articles (published between 2003 and 2021). Secondly, it provides a quantitative and qualitative analysis identifying strategic options and guidelines for a smooth digital transition among these players. Lastly, some recommendations to policy makers were clipped to work as facilitators, given SMEs specificities. The future is digital and the struggle for e-commerce adoption and exploitation among these organizations is at the top of the agenda. It is central in maintaining the vibrancy of the business ecosystem, and is therefore a turnkey for economic recovery.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jtaer16070166","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,11,5]],"date-time":"2021-11-05T10:33:09Z","timestamp":1636108389000},"page":"3043-3062","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":112,"title":["SMEs Must Go Online\u2014E-Commerce as an Escape Hatch for Resilience and Survivability"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7514-9836","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joana","family":"Costa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"DEGEIT\u2014Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism, University of Aveiro, Campus Universit\u00e1rio de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal"},{"name":"GOVCOPP\u2014Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies, University of Aveiro, Campus Universit\u00e1rio de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal"},{"name":"INESCTEC\u2014Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science, Campus da Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Rafael","family":"Castro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"DEGEIT\u2014Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism, University of Aveiro, Campus Universit\u00e1rio de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal"},{"name":"GOVCOPP\u2014Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies, University of Aveiro, Campus Universit\u00e1rio de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,11,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"12","article-title":"The Reality of E-Commerce with Developing Countries","volume":"4","author":"John","year":"2003","journal-title":"Int. J. Inf. Eng. Electron. Bus."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Turban, E., McLean, E., and Wetherbe, J. (2000). Information Technology for Management: Transforming Organizations in the Digital Economy, Wiley."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"188","article-title":"The Impact of Social Media Characteristics on E-Commerce Use Behaviour among Youth in Developing Countries","volume":"11","author":"Akram","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Inf. Syst. Chang. Manag."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"(2011, January 21). The Evolution and Development of E-Commerce Market and E-Cash. Proceedings of the International Conference on Measurement and Control Engineering 2nd (ICMCE 2011), Puerto Ric, USA."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"130","DOI":"10.5430\/ijba.v8n7p130","article-title":"E-Commerce: A Short History Follow-up on Possible Trends","volume":"8","author":"Sabino","year":"2017","journal-title":"IJBA"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100","DOI":"10.1108\/JSBED-10-2013-0145","article-title":"Electronic Commerce Adoption, Entrepreneurial Orientation and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) Performance","volume":"21","author":"Abebe","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Small Bus. Enterp. Dev."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"327","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tourman.2015.07.007","article-title":"Using Competing Models to Evaluate the Role of Environmental Pressures in Ecommerce Adoption by Small and Medium Sized Travel Agents in a Developing Country","volume":"52","author":"Lim","year":"2016","journal-title":"Tour. Manag."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"European Comission (2020). Unleashing the Full Potential of European SMEs, European Union."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1016\/j.im.2003.12.010","article-title":"Electronic Commerce Adoption: An Empirical Study of Small and Medium US Businesses","volume":"42","author":"Grandon","year":"2004","journal-title":"Inf. Manag."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1080\/10864415.1998.11518312","article-title":"Factors Influencing the Adoption of the Internet","volume":"2","author":"Tan","year":"1998","journal-title":"Int. J. Electron. Commer."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.1504\/IJBSR.2007.014770","article-title":"Examining the Impact of Organisational and Owner\u2019s Characteristics on the Extent of e-Commerce Adoption in SMEs","volume":"1","author":"Chuang","year":"2007","journal-title":"Int. J. Bus. Syst. Res."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ha, V.D. (2020). Enhancing the E-Commerce Application in SMEs. Manag. Sci. Lett., 2821\u20132828.","DOI":"10.5267\/j.msl.2020.4.027"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"381","DOI":"10.1108\/JEIM-08-2019-0227","article-title":"Push-Pull-Mooring Framework for e-Commerce Adoption in Small and Medium Enterprises","volume":"33","author":"Susanty","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Enterp. Inf. Manag."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"250","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusres.2018.11.001","article-title":"SMEs\u2019 Internationalisation: When Does Innovation Matter?","volume":"96","author":"Saridakis","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Bus. Res."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"462","DOI":"10.1016\/j.elerap.2007.02.012","article-title":"The Adoption of ECommerce Communications and Applications Technologies in Small Businesses in New Zealand","volume":"6","year":"2007","journal-title":"Electron. Commer. Res. Appl."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1443","DOI":"10.1016\/j.technovation.2005.06.011","article-title":"Exploring B-to-B e-Commerce Adoption Trajectories in Manufacturing SMEs","volume":"25","author":"Lefebvre","year":"2005","journal-title":"Technovation"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"De Massis, A., Audretsch, D., Uhlaner, L., and Kammerlande, N. (2018). Innovation with Limited Resources: Management Lessons from the German Mittelstand. J. Prod. Innov. Manag.","DOI":"10.1111\/jpim.12373"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"534","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jwb.2016.01.004","article-title":"External Managers, Family Ownership and the Scope of SME Internationalization","volume":"51","author":"Majocchi","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. World Bus."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"375","DOI":"10.3846\/16111699.2011.576749","article-title":"An Empirical Study of Factors Affecting Electronic Commerce Adoption among SMEs in Malaysia","volume":"12","author":"Alam","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Bus. Econ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.1016\/S0963-8687(02)00007-0","article-title":"IT Alignment and Firm Performance in Small Manufacturing Firms","volume":"11","author":"Cragg","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Strateg. Inf. Syst."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pursup.2003.11.004","article-title":"Small Firms and E-Business: Cautiousness, Contingency and Cost-Benefit","volume":"10","author":"Zheng","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Purch. Supply Manag."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"217","article-title":"Reality of Use and Nature of Change in Small Business","volume":"3","author":"Wojtkowski","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Cases Inf. Technol."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"152","DOI":"10.1108\/17410390910932803","article-title":"SMEs\u2019 E-commerce Adoption: Perspectives from Denmark and Australia","volume":"22","author":"Scupola","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Ent. Inf. Manag."},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"205","article-title":"The Mobile Internet and Small Business: An Exploratory Study of Needs, Uses and Adoption with Full-Adopters of Technology","volume":"35","author":"Harker","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Res. Pract. Inf. Technol."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"332","DOI":"10.1016\/j.im.2007.04.001","article-title":"Business-to-Business Adoption of ECommerce in China","volume":"44","author":"Tan","year":"2007","journal-title":"Inf. Manag."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"351","DOI":"10.1177\/0266242608088743","article-title":"A Conceptualization of the Determinants of Small Business Website Adoption: Setting the Research Agenda","volume":"26","author":"Simmons","year":"2008","journal-title":"Int. Small Bus. J."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mustafa, N., Nakov, L., and Islami, X. (2019). The Impact of Organizational Changes on Increasing SMEs Competitiveness. SSRN J.","DOI":"10.2139\/ssrn.3351243"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.4018\/jgim.2011100103","article-title":"Modeling the Success of Small and Medium Sized Online Vendors in Business to Business Electronic Marketplaces in China: A Motivation\u2014Capability Framework","volume":"19","author":"Wang","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Glob. Inf. Manag."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"167","DOI":"10.1080\/07421222.2004.11045794","article-title":"The Complementarity of Information Technology Infrastructure and E-Commerce Capability: A Resource-Based Assessment of Their Business Value","volume":"21","author":"Zhu","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Manag. Inf. Syst."},{"key":"ref_30","first-page":"332","article-title":"Perceived Barriers to E-Commerce Adoption in SMEs in Developing Countries: The Case of Travel Agents in Egypt","volume":"21","author":"Shouk","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Serv. Oper. Manag."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dss.2011.12.007","article-title":"The Progression of Online Trust in the Multi-Channel Retailer Context and the Role of Product Uncertainty","volume":"53","author":"Bock","year":"2012","journal-title":"Decis. Support. Syst."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"328","DOI":"10.1080\/10864415.2019.1619907","article-title":"Building E-Commerce Satisfaction and Boosting Sales: The Role of Social Commerce Trust and Its Antecedents","volume":"23","author":"Lin","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Electron. Commer."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"927","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijinfomgt.2013.08.007","article-title":"The Mediating Role of Consumer Trust in an Online Merchant in Predicting Purchase Intention","volume":"33","author":"Hong","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Inf. Manag."},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"79","article-title":"The Behaviour and Perceptions of On-Line Consumers: Risk, Risk Perception and Trust","volume":"7","author":"Jahankhani","year":"2009","journal-title":"Int. J. Inf. Sci. Manag."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"362","DOI":"10.1057\/jibs.2011.2","article-title":"Exploring the Complementarity between Innovation and Export for SMEs Growth","volume":"42","author":"Golovko","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Int. Bus. Stud."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"934","DOI":"10.1108\/JSBED-05-2012-0067","article-title":"Are UK SMEs with Active Web Sites More Likely to Achieve Both Innovation and Growth?","volume":"20","author":"Thompson","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Small Bus. Enterp. Dev."},{"key":"ref_37","unstructured":"Storey, D.J. (1994). Understanding The Small Business Sector, Routledge. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_38","first-page":"102","article-title":"Towards a Unified Customer Experience in Online Shopping Environments: Antecedents and Outcomes","volume":"8","author":"Bilgihan","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Qual. Serv. Sci."},{"key":"ref_39","unstructured":"Coppola, D. (2021, September 10). E-Commerce Worldwide\u2014Statistics & Facts 2021. Available online: https:\/\/www.statista.com\/topics\/871\/online-shopping\/."},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"World Economic Forum (2021, June 10). The Future of the Last-Mile Ecosystem\u2014Transition Roadmaps for Public- and Private-Sector Players 2020. Available online: https:\/\/www.c40knowledgehub.org\/s\/article\/The-Future-of-the-Last-Mile-Ecosystem-Transition-roadmaps-for-public-and-private-sector-players?language=en_US."},{"key":"ref_41","unstructured":"Ikmal, A., Djeneba, D., Gregory, N., Alexandros, R., Aarti, R., and Timmis, J. (2020). Small and Medium Enterprises in the Pandemic: Impact, Responses and the Role of Development Finance, World Bank Group. Policy Research Working Papers."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"OECD (2021). The Digital Transformation of SMEs, OECD. OECD Studies on SMEs and Entrepreneurship.","DOI":"10.1787\/2a24a552-en"},{"key":"ref_43","unstructured":"Montenegro, L., and Forbes Agency Council (2021, June 13). The Importance Of E-Commerce For Small Businesses. Available online: https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/forbesagencycouncil\/2021\/01\/04\/the-importance-of-e-commerce-for-small-businesses\/?sh=2e5c381a2312."},{"key":"ref_44","first-page":"207","article-title":"Towards a Methodology for Developing Evidence-Informed Management Knowledge by Means of Systematic Review","volume":"14","author":"Tranfield","year":"2003","journal-title":"Br. J. Manag."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"n71","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.n71","article-title":"The PRISMA 2020 Statement: An Updated Guideline for Reporting Systematic Reviews","volume":"372","author":"Page","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Page, M.J., Shamseer, L., Altman, D.G., Tetzlaff, J., Sampson, M., Tricco, A.C., Catal\u00e1-L\u00f3pez, F., Li, L., Reid, E.K., and Sarkis-Onofre, R. (2016). Epidemiology and Reporting Characteristics of Systematic Reviews of Biomedical Research: A Cross-Sectional Study. PLoS Med., 13.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.1002028"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1186\/s13643-021-01671-z","article-title":"How to Properly Use the PRISMA Statement","volume":"10","author":"Aromataris","year":"2021","journal-title":"Syst. Rev."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"705","DOI":"10.1007\/s11187-019-00181-6","article-title":"Pathways of SME Internationalization: A Bibliometric and Systematic Review","volume":"55","author":"Maley","year":"2020","journal-title":"Small Bus. Econ."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dss.2016.04.001","article-title":"Consumer Behavior in Social Commerce: A Literature Review","volume":"86","author":"Zhang","year":"2016","journal-title":"Decis. Support. Syst."},{"key":"ref_50","unstructured":"Elsevier (2021, June 15). Journal of Information Systems Theories and Applications. Available online: www.elsevier.com\/locate\/im."},{"key":"ref_51","unstructured":"UK Small Business Statistics (2021, June 20). Business Population Estimates for the UK and Regions in 2020, Available online: https:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/attachment_data\/file\/923565\/2020_Business_Population_Estimates_for_the_UK_and_regions_Statistical_Release.pdf."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"664","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jwb.2017.05.004","article-title":"SME International Business Models: The Role of Context and Experience","volume":"52","author":"Child","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. World Bus."},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.4018\/jeco.2011010104","article-title":"Influential Factors in the Adoption and Use of E-Business and E-Commerce Information Technology (EEIT) by Small & Medium Businesses","volume":"9","author":"Wymer","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Electron. Commer. Organ."},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Al Qubtan, T.R., Gan, P.-T., Hadi, F.S.A., Abdul Jalil, N., and Rambeli, N. (2021). Practical Risk Management Approaches among Small and Medium Enterprises. TEM J., 996\u20131004.","DOI":"10.18421\/TEM102-65"},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"36","DOI":"10.1016\/S1441-3582(05)70066-5","article-title":"A Profile of Adopters and Non-Adopters of Ecommerce in SME Professional Service Firms","volume":"13","author":"McCole","year":"2005","journal-title":"Australas. Mark. J."},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.22215\/timreview\/1413","article-title":"Global Market Entry for Finnish SME ECommerce Companies","volume":"11","author":"Toivola","year":"2021","journal-title":"Technol. Innov. Manag. Rev."},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijinfomgt.2018.10.009","article-title":"Exploring Barriers of M-Commerce Adoption in SMEs in the UK: Developing a Framework Using ISM","volume":"44","author":"Rana","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Inf. Manag."},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1504\/IJTM.2008.019411","article-title":"Small Firm Transformation through IS","volume":"43","author":"Levy","year":"2008","journal-title":"Int. J. Technol. Manag."},{"key":"ref_59","first-page":"379","article-title":"Challenges of Using Marketing Information System (MkIS) by SMEs in Fiji","volume":"19","author":"Singh","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Entrep. Small Bus."},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.4018\/jeco.2007070103","article-title":"Electronic Commerce Adoption Barriers in Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Developed and Developing Countries: A Cross-Country Comparison","volume":"5","author":"Kartiwi","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Electron. Commer. Organ."},{"key":"ref_61","first-page":"649","article-title":"Incorporating Intellectual Property Rights and E-Commerce: Supply Chain Strategy to Strengthen the Competitiveness of SMEs","volume":"9","author":"Retnaningdiah","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Supply Chain. Manag."},{"key":"ref_62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"389","DOI":"10.1007\/s10551-017-3452-3","article-title":"E-Commerce Ethics and Its Impact on Buyer Repurchase Intentions and Loyalty: An Empirical Study of Small and Medium Egyptian Businesses","volume":"154","author":"Agag","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Bus. Ethics"},{"key":"ref_63","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1108\/13287269980000747","article-title":"Factors Affecting Entry-level Internet Technology Adoption by Small Business in Australia\u2014Evidence from Three Cases","volume":"3","author":"Cavaye","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Syst. Inf. Technol."},{"key":"ref_64","first-page":"169","article-title":"Consumer Behavior in the Online Context","volume":"8","author":"Cummins","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Res. Interact. Mark."},{"key":"ref_65","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"319","DOI":"10.2307\/249008","article-title":"Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, and User Acceptance of Information Technology","volume":"13","author":"Davis","year":"1989","journal-title":"MIS Q."},{"key":"ref_66","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Stoetzer, M.-W., and Mahler, A. (1995). Diffusion of Innovations: Modifications of a Model for Telecommunications. Die Diffusion von Innovationen in der Telekommunikation, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-79868-9"},{"key":"ref_67","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"429","DOI":"10.1016\/0305-0483(95)00017-I","article-title":"CEO Characteristics, Organizational Characteristics and Information Technology Adoption in Small Businesses","volume":"23","author":"Thong","year":"1995","journal-title":"Omega"},{"key":"ref_68","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1108\/QMR-01-2017-0001","article-title":"Risks\/Rewards and an Evolving Business Model: A Case Study of a Small Lifestyle Business in the UK Tourism Sector","volume":"21","author":"Crick","year":"2018","journal-title":"Qual. Mark. Res."},{"key":"ref_69","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"303","DOI":"10.1007\/s11628-008-0046-2","article-title":"EBusiness Applications in SMEs of Italian Industrial Districts: The Textile and Wood\/Furniture Cases","volume":"2","author":"Balocco","year":"2008","journal-title":"Serv. Bus."},{"key":"ref_70","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsis.2008.11.001","article-title":"The Moderating Effect of the Business Strategic Orientation on ECommerce Adoption: Evidence from UK Family Run SMEs","volume":"18","author":"Wang","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Strateg. Inf. Syst."},{"key":"ref_71","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"465","DOI":"10.2307\/249629","article-title":"Electronic Data Interchange and Small Organizations: Adoption and Impact of Technology","volume":"19","author":"Iacovou","year":"1995","journal-title":"MIS Q."},{"key":"ref_72","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"507","DOI":"10.1016\/S0378-7206(01)00073-8","article-title":"A Perception-Based Model for EDI Adoption in Small Businesses Using a Technology\u2013Organization\u2013Environment Framework","volume":"38","author":"Kuan","year":"2001","journal-title":"Inf. Manag."},{"key":"ref_73","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"467","DOI":"10.1016\/S0305-0483(98)00071-1","article-title":"Adoption of New Information Technologies in Rural Small Businesses","volume":"27","author":"Premkumar","year":"1999","journal-title":"Omega"},{"key":"ref_74","unstructured":"Porter, M.E. (1985). Competitive Advantage of Nations: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance, N.Y. Free Press."},{"key":"ref_75","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1690","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusres.2015.10.039","article-title":"Innovation, Internationalization and Business-Growth Expectations among Entrepreneurs in the Services Sector","volume":"69","author":"Galindo","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Bus. Res."},{"key":"ref_76","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Schumpeter, J.A. (2010). Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, Routledge.","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203857090"},{"key":"ref_77","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"203","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1540-627X.2008.00240.x","article-title":"Fueling Innovation through Information Technology in SMEs","volume":"46","author":"Dibrell","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Small Bus. Manag."},{"key":"ref_78","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1016\/S0166-4972(97)00102-8","article-title":"Small Firms, R&D, Technology and Innovation in the UK: A Literature Review","volume":"18","author":"Hoffmann","year":"1998","journal-title":"Technovation"},{"key":"ref_79","first-page":"891","article-title":"Innovation Practice and Its Performance Implications in SMEs in the Manufacturing Sector: A Resouce-Based View","volume":"31","author":"Terziovski","year":"2010","journal-title":"Strateg. Manag. J."},{"key":"ref_80","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"441","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusvent.2009.12.002","article-title":"Is Innovation Always Beneficial? A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between Innovation and Performance in SMEs","volume":"26","author":"Rosenbusch","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Bus. Ventur."},{"key":"ref_81","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"415","DOI":"10.1007\/s11187-006-9002-5","article-title":"Small and Medium Enterprises Across the Globe","volume":"29","author":"Ayyagari","year":"2007","journal-title":"Small Bus. Econ."},{"key":"ref_82","first-page":"5","article-title":"Public Policies to Support Entrepreneurship and SMEs. Empirical Evidences from Romania","volume":"2016","author":"Anton","year":"2016","journal-title":"Transylv. Rev. Adm. Sci."},{"key":"ref_83","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1013","DOI":"10.1080\/00343400601120288","article-title":"Internationalization of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and International Entrepreneurship: A Critique and Policy Implications","volume":"41","author":"Wright","year":"2007","journal-title":"Reg. Stud."},{"key":"ref_84","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ebeke, C., Jovanovic, N., Valderrama, L., and Zhou, J. (2021). Corporate Liquidity and Solvency in Europe during COVID-19, IMF. IMF Working Papers.","DOI":"10.2139\/ssrn.3852785"},{"key":"ref_85","unstructured":"UNCTAD (2021, September 17). How COVID-19 Triggered the Digital and e-Commerce Turning Point. Available online: https:\/\/unctad.org\/news\/how-covid-19-triggered-digital-and-e-commerce-turning-point."},{"key":"ref_86","first-page":"1","article-title":"Developing and Validating Readiness Measures of Inter-Organizational e-Commerce on SMEs","volume":"16","author":"Zakaria","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Internet Bank. Commer."},{"key":"ref_87","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.4018\/IJEEI.2019010103","article-title":"An Exploratory Study of Cross Border E-Commerce (CBEC) in China: Opportunities and Challenges for Small to Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs)","volume":"9","author":"Fan","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. E-Entrep. Innov."},{"key":"ref_88","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"120381","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2020.120381","article-title":"Spanish SMEs\u2019 Digitalization Enablers: E-Receipt Applications to the Offline Retail Market","volume":"162","year":"2021","journal-title":"Technol. Forecast. Soc. Chang."},{"key":"ref_89","first-page":"5","article-title":"How Do Australian Small and Medium Enterprises Communicate Their Environmental Improvement Activities Online?","volume":"17","author":"Parker","year":"2011","journal-title":"Australas. J. Inf. Syst."},{"key":"ref_90","unstructured":"Comission, E. (2021). How Can Public Space in a City Help to Address Future Urban Challenges?, European Commision."},{"key":"ref_91","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/21650020.2018.1428114","article-title":"E-Commerce and Urban Planning\u2014Comparing Knowledge Claims in Research and Planning Practice","volume":"6","author":"Pettersson","year":"2018","journal-title":"Urban Plan. Transp. Res."},{"key":"ref_92","first-page":"45","article-title":"Individual Attitudes and Shopping Mode Characteristics Affecting the Use of E-Shopping and Related Travel","volume":"14","author":"Crocco","year":"2013","journal-title":"Transp. Telecommun. J."},{"key":"ref_93","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.1111\/j.0040-747X.2004.00300.x","article-title":"Mobility and Accessibility Effects of B2c E-Commerce: A Literature Review: Mobility and Accessibility Effects of B2c e-Commerce","volume":"95","author":"Visser","year":"2004","journal-title":"Tijdschr. Voor Econ. Soc. Geogr."},{"key":"ref_94","unstructured":"Subramaniam, A., and Felman, J. (2021, September 17). How Deglobalization Is Hurting the World\u2019s Emerging Economies. Available online: https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/agenda\/2020\/09\/convergence-threatened-by-deglobalization-covid19."}],"container-title":["Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/0718-1876\/16\/7\/166\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T07:26:07Z","timestamp":1760167567000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/0718-1876\/16\/7\/166"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,11,5]]},"references-count":94,"journal-issue":{"issue":"7","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,12]]}},"alternative-id":["jtaer16070166"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/jtaer16070166","relation":{},"ISSN":["0718-1876"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0718-1876","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,11,5]]}}}