Digital transformation of SMEs

The aim of this study is to investigate the digital transformation process which is witnessed by the whole world and how SMEs - operating in our country - are positioning in this transformation process. Within the scope of "Digital Transformation Movement" project which is collaboratively carried out by The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and Vodafone, online survey was applied to SMEs. By randomly selecting 250 surveys (sampling) out of a data pool formed by scattered companies based on the online survey, with a 5 percent margin of error (sample) with a 95 percent confidence level, the data is statistically analyzed by using SPSS 19.0 program. In this study, which has an exploratory feature, ANOVA and hierarchical regression, factor analysis and cluster analysis are used. Based on the regression analysis, it is concluded that the budget allocated to the technology has an effect on the digital score. In addition, it is also observed that if the number of employees, i.e. firm size, increases, the effect of the budget allocated to technology on digital score increases. When the analyzes are examined in terms of the service and production sector, it is concluded that the effect of the budget allocated for technology in the service sector on the digital score increases while there is no relationship in the production sector. The study consists of five parts. After the introduction, the concept of digitalization is defined in the second section, and the history of digitalization and its trends in the world are examined. Again in this section, the importance of digitalization and its effects on companies and the commercial ecosystem are explained. In the third section, the concept of SMEs is defined and various data on the use of technology by SMEs have been examined. In the fourth part, the results of the survey conducted with 250 companies within the scope of TOBB Digital Transformation Movement are analyzed. In the last part of the study, suggestions for the digitalization of SMEs are presented by evaluating the results of the analyzes.