DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND THE PERFORMANCE OF SPANISH MANUFACTURING FIRMS: THE INFLUENCE OF TECHNOLOGICAL INTENSITY OF THE INDUSTRY
Authors: Grijalvo Ruperez Esther , FOSSAS OLALLA MARTA , RODRIGUEZ DUARTE ANTONIO 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACT:
Digital transformation (DT) is the use and integration of digital technologies in all areas of an organization, leading to profound changes in its activities, operations and value creation for customers. It has become a matter of survival for organizations across all sectors, geographies and sizes. Despite its widespread adoption, DT success is not achieved by investing in technology alone; it is necessary to analyze the factors that influence success and understand why some companies gain a competitive advantage while others fail. This study examines three key factors of DT: business model innovation, digital technology integration and digital talent management, and their relationship to performance. In addition, we examine the environment in which each organization operates, considering the technological intensity of the sector as a potential moderating factor between these factors and performance.
The study focuses on Spanish manufacturing companies, using data from the ESEE. By analyzing a panel data set of 9215 observations between 2011 and 2017, we provide evidence that the technological intensity of the sector significantly affects the relationship between business model innovation, digital technology integration, the development of new competencies and performance. The study shows that companies in medium- and low-tech sectors can benefit more quickly from investments aimed at business model innovation, digital technology integration and the development of new competencies, and achieve better short-term results compared to companies in high-tech sectors. These results suggest that, despite their limited investment in R&D, companies in medium- and low-tech sectors have resources and capabilities that compensate for their innovation activities.ABSTRACT:
Digital transformation (DT) is the use and integration of digital technologies in all areas of an organization, leading to profound changes in its activities, operations and value creation for customers. It has become a matter of survival for organizations across all sectors, geographies and sizes. Despite its widespread adoption, DT success is not achieved by investing in technology alone; it is necessary to analyze the factors that influence success and understand why some companies gain a competitive advantage while others fail. This study examines three key factors of DT: business model innovation, digital technology integration and digital talent management, and their relationship to performance. In addition, we examine the environment in which each organization operates, considering the technological intensity of the sector as a potential moderating factor between these factors and performance.
The study focuses on Spanish manufacturing companies, using data from the ESEE. By analyzing a panel data set of 9215 observations between 2011 and 2017, we provide evidence that the technological intensity of the sector significantly affects the relationship between business model innovation, digital technology integration, the development of new competencies and performance. The study shows that companies in medium- and low-tech sectors can benefit more quickly from investments aimed at business model innovation, digital technology integration and the development of new competencies, and achieve better short-term results compared to companies in high-tech sectors. These results suggest that, despite their limited investment in R&D, companies in medium- and low-tech sectors have resources and capabilities that compensate for their innovation activities.

Keywords: Digital transformation; performance of Spanish manufacturing firms; business model innovation; digital technology integration; digital talent management; industry’s technological intensity.

Keywords: Digital transformation; performance of Spanish manufacturing firms; business model innovation; digital technology integration; digital talent management; industry’s technological intensity.