Impact of Technological Innovation on Entrepreneurship in Micro and Small Enterprises: A Systematic Review of the Literature (#1060)

Authors

Suxe Ramírez, María Alicia

Yepez Pretel, Nidia Erlinda

Zuñiga Abregu, Romi Rubi

Abstract

This research analyzed the impact of technological innovation on small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ), considering its relationship with digital tools, productivity, and business competitiveness. A systematic review of 62 original articles from the WOS database of Science and Scopus from 2021 to 2025. The Prisma and PICO methods were used to select studies according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The main structural and behavioral theories that explain how SMEs adapt to technological change are identified, highlighting the role of the entrepreneur, internal processes, and environmental factors. The findings show that digital transformation drives operational efficiency, facilitates e-commerce, and promotes inclusive growth. However, significant barriers remain, such as lack of preparation, gaps in access to technologies, limited training, and limited institutional support. Likewise, methodological limitations were identified in the analyzed studies, such as small samples, cross-sectional studies, and scarce empirical evidence, which makes it difficult to generalize the results. It is concluded that for SMEs to fully take advantage of the benefits of digitalization, it is necessary to strengthen their internal capacities, improve supporting public policies, and promote broader and more in-depth research