Assessing the Impact of Digital Transformation in SMEs on the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals

Digitalization of European enterprises is a prerequisite for their long-term success and competitiveness. Within the framework of the European Green Deal and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), digitalization is increasingly linked to key objectives such as Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Responsible Consumption and Production, and Climate Action. This study examines the level of digitalization in European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a particular focus on Slovenia. It evaluates the position of Slovenian companies relative to the EU average and explores the relationship between digital maturity and the achievement of sustainability goals. The research combines qualitative and quantitative approaches. In-depth interviews with SME managers were used to identify key digitalization parameters, which guided as the basis for selection of relevant indicators from the Eurostat survey on ICT usage (2020–2024). In total, 558 indicators were analysed at the country level, with a subset of 60 sustainability-relevant indicators examined in detail. Additionally, the study analyses the relationship between the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) and the SDG Index across EU Member States. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the role of digitalization in the context of sustainable development.