DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION STRATEGIES AND RESILIENCE OF SMEs IN FCT-ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in dynamic economic environments. This study examines digital transformation strategies and the resilience of SMEs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The study employs a descriptive survey research design, utilizing a structured questionnaire to collect primary data from a stratified random sample of 361 SMEs from a total population of 5,690 SMEs across various sectors, including retail, manufacturing, finance, information and communication technology (ICT), and service industries. Data analysis is conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics, with simple regression analysis applied to test the relationships between the proxies of digital transformation variables and the proxies of SME resilience. Findings revealed that digital infrastructure had significant effect on SME resilience, followed by cybersecurity strategies and digital supply chain management. The regression model explains approximately 69.3% of the variance in SME resilience, indicating that digital transformation strategies play a pivotal role in strengthening business continuity and adaptability. The study recommends that SMEs prioritize investments in digital infrastructure, enhance cybersecurity measures, and optimize supply chain management through digital integration to improve their resilience against economic disruptions.