# Integrating Sustainable Performance into the Digital Maturity Models for SMEs in Manufacturing
## 1 Introduction
This absence of an integrated framework highlights a critical \"research gap\": the need for a model that aligns digital maturity with sustainability indicators, offering a more comprehensive perspective for SMMEs. Therefore, the research problem is:  
_The digital maturity models designed to assist SMMEs in their DT do not allow for the measurement of social, economic, and environmental benefits from digital implementation; there is a gap between digital maturity measurement and sustainable performance measurement._  
Although the ultimate goal is to identify the specific impact of each dimension of I4.0 on every aspect of sustainable performance, the first step is to establish a comprehensive list of indicators, which can be integrated into existing models, to effectively measure these dimensions within SMMEs. This initial step will form the basis for a targeted analysis of the effect of each I4.0 dimension on the specific objectives of businesses, allowing digital practices to be better aligned with their sustainable performance aspirations. Thus, in attempting to address this issue, certain studies demonstrate that I4.0 offers opportunities to enhance sustainable performance in businesses. In some contexts, the literature shows that I4.0 can enable companies to create sustainable business models, allowing them to reduce their negative impacts on social and environmental aspects [31]. There is evidence that DT in industry can offer much more than economic advantages, contributing to environmental and social sustainability [32]. Furthermore, the study by [PERSON] and [PERSON] in 2019 confirms the relevance of factors affecting individual dimensions of sustainable development and helps broaden the understanding of the literature on the different dimensions of sustainability [33]. Research has already highlighted the links between I4.0 and economic, environmental, and operational aspects. These technologies can positively influence performance in these areas, but it is also important to consider several potentially negative impacts on the social aspect [34]. Researchers have already warned that the transition to smart manufacturing could create social challenges, such as the need for specialised skills and risks to employees' mental health [35]. On the other hand, it is essential to highlight the environmental opportunities that I4.0 can offer, particularly in improving energy efficiency and promoting recycling [33; 36; 37]. All of this research demonstrates that there is indeed a promising avenue to explore regarding the measurement of sustainable performance to understand the impact of I4.0 on the success of SMMEs. This therefore leads to the research questions:  
**Q1. **: _What specific indicators from the literature address both digital maturity and sustainable performance, and how do they contribute to a unified measurement framework?_
**Q2. **: _Which types of data or dimensions are necessary to enhance existing digital maturity models to better integrate sustainability considerations?_  
To address these research questions, it is essential to gather more information regarding the indicators. Therefore, conducting a literature review focused on the dimensions of sustainable performance and I4.0 is a realistic approach. In response to this challenge, this research hypothesises _that it is possible to reorganise sustainable performance indicators in the context of DT, as already presented in the literature, to establish a more comprehensive list of factors expressing an SMME's success._ This hypothesis suggests exploring the relevance of sustainable performance indicators in evaluating SMMEs' digital maturity level and identifying information to be collected to measure it concretely. This brings us to the objective of this article:  
_This study aims to propose a set of indicators that can enhance digital maturity models by integrating economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable performance.