FACTORS INFLUENCING SMEs’ READINESS FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN OUDOMXAY PROVINCE, LAO PDR
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study investigates the factors influencing the readiness of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Oudomxay Province, for the digital transformation. A structured questionnaire was used as a research tool to collect data from 250 SMEs selected through quota sampling across manufacturing, trade, and service sectors. The analysis employed both descriptive statistics and inferential techniques to assess internal and external readiness factors.
The results indicate that the internal organizational factors, particularly digital capability, operational processes, and leadership, play a critical role in shaping readiness. In contrast, customer experience exhibits a significant negative impact, while business models and government supports have limited influence. These findings highlight the need to strengthen digital competencies and internal resources within SMEs to improve their ability to adopt digital technologies. The study offers actionable insights for policymakers and development agencies to design targeted support strategies that promote sustainable digital transformation in regional economies.
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
I and co-author(s) certify that articles of this proposal had not yet been published and is not in the process of publication in journals or other published sources. I and co-author accept the rules of the manuscript consideration. Both agree that the editors have the right to consider and make recommendations to the appropriate source. With this rights offering articles that have been published to Panyapiwat Institute of Management. If there is a claim of copyright infringement on the part of the text or graphics that appear in the article. I and co-author(s) agree on sole responsibility.
References
Angeles, R. (2012). Purdue’s RFID supply chain for e-pedigree compliance: Applying the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework. International Journal of Business Information Systems, 10(4), 447-480. https://www.inderscienceonline.com/doi/abs/10.1504/IJBIS.2012.048338
Bank of Lao PDR. (2023). Annual economic report. https://www.bol.gov.la/en/annualreports
Barney, J. B. (2001). Resource-based theories of competitive advantage: A ten-year retrospectivn the resource-based view. Journal of Management, 27(6), 643-650. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/014920630102700602
Kaewchote, K. (2022). Factors affecting a transformation to a digital organization of the Department of Public Prosecutor Commission [Master’s thesis]. Chulalongkorn University. https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/chulaetd/8334/
Lao Statistics Bureau. (2024). Thematic statistics. https://www.lsb.gov.la/ [in Lao]
Ministry of Industry and Commerce. (2023). Decree on the classification of enterprises: Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR. http://www.moic.gov.la [in Lao]
Ministry of Technology and Communications, Lao PDR. (2021). 10-year national economic development strategy of Laos (2021-2030). http://www.dgc.gov.la [in Lao]
MIT Sloan Center. (2011). Digital transformation: A roadmap for billion-dollar organizations. MIT Center for Digital Business and Capgemini Consulting, 1(1), 17-25. https://www.academia.edu/39143443/
Pirom, R. (2023). Factor affecting readiness for digital transformation of Small and Medium Enterprises in Chiang Mai Province. Panyapiwat Journal, 15(1), 48-60. https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/pimjournal/article/view/256072 [in Thai]
Pricewaterhouse Coopers International Limited [PwC]. (2015). Building your digital DNA: Digital transformation in progress. Deloitte, 1(1), 18-19. https://www.deloitte.com/global/en/search-results.html?qr=Deloitte-Digital-BE_Buildingyour-digital-DNA_download_HR.pdf
Sudman, S. (1976). Sample surveys. Annual Review of Sociology, 2, 107-120. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2946088?seq=1