Sustainability as a Driver of Digital Transformation: The Role of Emerging Technologies
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Keywords:
Digital Transformation, Emerging Technologies, Innovation, PESTLE Analysis, Sustainability, SWOT AnalysisAbstract
Digital transformation has emerged as a defining force in reshaping economic, social, and
environmental domains, with sustainability increasingly influencing the trajectory of this transformation.
The relationship between digitalization and sustainability is mutually reinforcing: sustainability sets the
direction for the development, adoption, and diffusion of digital technologies, while digital tools and
processes provide essential mechanisms for realizing sustainable outcomes. Emerging technologies such as
artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain are playing a
pivotal role in enabling greener business models, enhancing transparency, optimizing resource efficiency,
and reducing environmental footprints. At the same time, organizations face challenges related to high
implementation costs, data security concerns, regulatory complexity, and digital skill gaps. This research
examines the multidimensional impact of sustainability on digital transformation through both SWOT and
PESTLE analyses. The findings reveal that sustainability not only drives innovation and efficiency but also
creates new opportunities for circular economy models, global collaboration, and investment in green
technologies. However, threats such as digital divides, technological lock-ins, regulatory challenges and
the rising energy demand of digital infrastructures pose significant risks. By combining theoretical insights
with strategic analysis, this study underscores the importance of organizational capabilities, governance,
and innovation in leveraging digital transformation to achieve long-term sustainability goals. The
discussion contributes to the growing body of literature by offering a comprehensive framework to
understand how sustainability can shape digital transformation in practice and by highlighting the need for
holistic approaches to address both opportunities and challenges, including political, economic, social,
technological, legal, and environmental factors.
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