Title: Digitalisation and internationalisation of SMEs in emerging markets

Authors: Yan Yin Lee; Mohammad Falahat; Bil Kai Sia

Addresses: Faculty of Accountancy and Management, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Jalan Sungai Long 9, Bandar Sungai Long, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia ' Faculty of Accountancy and Management, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Jalan Sungai Long 9, Bandar Sungai Long, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia ' Faculty of Accountancy and Management, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Jalan Sungai Long 9, Bandar Sungai Long, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract: Digitalisation is one of the drivers for emergence of early internationalising firms. However, only limited empirical studies outline the mechanism of how these firms can benefit from digitalisation. To fill this gap, we explore how digitalisation benefits early internationalising SMEs and the determinants of digital orientation through case interviews of 20 SMEs from low and high tech industries in Malaysia. Our findings reveal the entrepreneur, product, firm, technology and market characteristics that determine the digital orientations of firms in the international market. Firms with the relevant characteristics of determinants could leverage digitalisation for early and rapid internationalisation. The paper also highlights six interesting topics worth further exploration in international entrepreneurship research.

Keywords: born global firms; brand orientation; digitalisation; digital orientation; early internationalisation; rapid internationalisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2022.122024

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2022 Vol.45 No.3, pp.334 - 354

Received: 05 Feb 2019
Accepted: 23 May 2019
Published online: 08 Apr 2022 *

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