AI-Enabled Opportunities and Transformation Challenges for SMEs in the Post-pandemic Era: A Review and Research Agenda

Xiaoqian Lu; Kumud Wijayaratna; Yufei Huang; Aimei Qiu

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.885067

AI-Enabled Opportunities and Transformation Challenges for SMEs in the Post-pandemic Era: A Review and Research Agenda

Xiaoqian Lu, Kumud Wijayaratna, Yufei Huang, Aimei Qiu^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

56 Citations (Scopus)

179 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic has seen SME's struggling around the world. With many quickly adopting digital technologies, such as AI, in their manufacturing or services operations to achieve sustainable development. This study aims to develop a framework that informs AI-enabled sustainable development for SMEs by integrating the relevant research in the field. In this framework, we identify the opportunities that the deployment of AI technology can do to alleviate the plights of SMEs in the post-pandemic era, including the impacts on work, organizations, and performance. We further explore the challenges that SMEs face in AI transformation and recommend strategies to take on those challenges. Finally we propose an agenda for future research based on technological challenges and environmental threats.

Original language	English
Article number	885067
Number of pages	11
Journal	Frontiers in Public Health
Volume	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.885067
Publication status	Published - 29 Apr 2022

Keywords

AI technology
SMEs
continuous development
pandemic
post-pandemic recovery

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.3389/fpubh.2022.885067Licence: CC BY

fpubh-10-885067.pdfFinal published version, 1.23 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{cda84d066ee64d6c9bf848d9981eca4d,

title = "AI-Enabled Opportunities and Transformation Challenges for SMEs in the Post-pandemic Era: A Review and Research Agenda",

abstract = "The negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic has seen SME's struggling around the world. With many quickly adopting digital technologies, such as AI, in their manufacturing or services operations to achieve sustainable development. This study aims to develop a framework that informs AI-enabled sustainable development for SMEs by integrating the relevant research in the field. In this framework, we identify the opportunities that the deployment of AI technology can do to alleviate the plights of SMEs in the post-pandemic era, including the impacts on work, organizations, and performance. We further explore the challenges that SMEs face in AI transformation and recommend strategies to take on those challenges. Finally we propose an agenda for future research based on technological challenges and environmental threats.",

keywords = "AI technology, SMEs, continuous development, pandemic, post-pandemic recovery",

author = "Xiaoqian Lu and Kumud Wijayaratna and Yufei Huang and Aimei Qiu",

note = "Funding information: This research was supported by the Major Program of the National Social Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20VHJ007), Soft Science Project of Fujian Province (Grant Nos. 2020R0066 and 2020R0067), and Xiamen Federation of Industry and Commerce (Grant No. H2021139). ",

year = "2022",

month = apr,

day = "29",

doi = "10.3389/fpubh.2022.885067",

language = "English",

volume = "10",

journal = "Frontiers in Public Health",

issn = "2296-2565",

publisher = "Frontiers Media SA",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - AI-Enabled Opportunities and Transformation Challenges for SMEs in the Post-pandemic Era: A Review and Research Agenda

AU - Lu, Xiaoqian

AU - Wijayaratna, Kumud

AU - Huang, Yufei

AU - Qiu, Aimei

N1 - Funding information: This research was supported by the Major Program of the National Social Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20VHJ007), Soft Science Project of Fujian Province (Grant Nos. 2020R0066 and 2020R0067), and Xiamen Federation of Industry and Commerce (Grant No. H2021139).

PY - 2022/4/29

Y1 - 2022/4/29

N2 - The negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic has seen SME's struggling around the world. With many quickly adopting digital technologies, such as AI, in their manufacturing or services operations to achieve sustainable development. This study aims to develop a framework that informs AI-enabled sustainable development for SMEs by integrating the relevant research in the field. In this framework, we identify the opportunities that the deployment of AI technology can do to alleviate the plights of SMEs in the post-pandemic era, including the impacts on work, organizations, and performance. We further explore the challenges that SMEs face in AI transformation and recommend strategies to take on those challenges. Finally we propose an agenda for future research based on technological challenges and environmental threats.

AB - The negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic has seen SME's struggling around the world. With many quickly adopting digital technologies, such as AI, in their manufacturing or services operations to achieve sustainable development. This study aims to develop a framework that informs AI-enabled sustainable development for SMEs by integrating the relevant research in the field. In this framework, we identify the opportunities that the deployment of AI technology can do to alleviate the plights of SMEs in the post-pandemic era, including the impacts on work, organizations, and performance. We further explore the challenges that SMEs face in AI transformation and recommend strategies to take on those challenges. Finally we propose an agenda for future research based on technological challenges and environmental threats.

KW - AI technology

KW - SMEs

KW - continuous development

KW - pandemic

KW - post-pandemic recovery

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85129865785

U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2022.885067

DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2022.885067

M3 - Review article

SN - 2296-2565

VL - 10

JO - Frontiers in Public Health

JF - Frontiers in Public Health

M1 - 885067

ER -

AI-Enabled Opportunities and Transformation Challenges for SMEs in the Post-pandemic Era: A Review and Research Agenda

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this