Digital Transformation in Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises. Guidelines for the Commercial Dental Laboratory Sector

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2021 in the subject Business economics - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,0, University of Applied Sciences Hanover, language: English, abstract: This thesis derives guidelines to path a way for digital transformation using the example of commercial dental laboratories. Therefore, commercial dental laboratories' current approach to managing digital transformation was identified by conducting 12 expert interviews with commercial dental laboratories according to SMEs' underlying size categorisation. Based on the discrepancy between the theory-based procedural stages and the laboratories' holistic assessment, practical and comprehensible guidelines were derived.

It was found that size-specific differences prevail in the way digitalisation measures are managed. Micro-sized and small laboratories suffer from financial and personal constraints and are limited to collaborating with partners. In contrast, medium-sized laboratories are confronted with increased internal complexity and resulting ambiguity within the workforce. This thesis enables managers of different sized laboratories to adapt guidelines tailored to their industry and provides support in implementing new technology.

Digital transformation is the technology-induced change on different organisational levels that includes both the exploitation of digital technologies and the exploration of digital innovation to transform the business model. Even though digital transformation is empirically and conceptually elaborated in theory, existing literature neglects the specifies of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Often existing models lack concrete recommendations for action that guide through the digital transformation and offer decision-making assistance.