Digital Transformation in the Creative Economy: Management Strategies for Business Sustainability

Digital transformation has become a major driving force for creative economic growth across various subsectors, from design and culinary arts to fashion and the digital content industry. The accelerated adoption of technology has forced creative businesses to reimagine their marketing, distribution, and human resource management strategies to remain competitive and sustainable. While previous studies have generally discussed digital transformation in MSMEs and the manufacturing industry, research specifically integrating adaptive management strategies with business sustainability indicators in the small and medium-sized creative economy sector remains limited. This study aims to analyze how management strategies within the context of digital transformation can strengthen the sustainability of creative economy businesses, while also offering a conceptual framework that integrates digital capacity, transformational leadership, and ecosystem collaboration as elements of innovation. The study employed a descriptive qualitative approach with case studies of creative businesses in the graphic design and culinary sectors, supported by in-depth interviews, observations, documentation studies, and triangulation of sources and methods. The results indicate that the adoption of digital technologies, including social media, e-commerce platforms, big data, and cloud computing, significantly expands market reach and operational efficiency, while adaptive leadership, digital literacy, and cross-actor collaboration are key factors in the success of the transformation. This research contributes to the development of innovative, adaptive, and sustainable creative economy management strategies in the digital era

1. Billi, A., & Bernardo, A. (2025). The effects of digital transformation, IT innovation, and sustainability strategies on firms' performances: An empirical study. Sustainability, 17(3), 823. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17030823
2. Casciani, D., Chkanikova, O., & Pal, R. (2022). Exploring the nature of digital transformation in the fashion industry: Opportunities for supply chains, business models, and sustainability-oriented innovations. Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 18(1), 773–795. https://doi.org/10.1080/15487733.2022.2125640
3. Chatzistamoulou, N. (2023). Is digital transformation the deus ex machina towards sustainability transition of the European SMEs? Ecological Economics, 206, 107739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2023.107739
4. Chen, A., Li, L., & Shahid, W. (2024). Digital transformation as the driving force for sustainable business performance: A moderated mediation model of market-driven business model innovation and digital leadership capabilities. Heliyon, 10(8), e29509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29509
5. Da Rocha, A.B.T., De Oliveira, K., Espuny, M., Da Motta Reis, J., & Oliveira, O.J. (2022). Business transformation through sustainability based on Industry 4.0. Heliyon, 8(7), e10015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10015
6. Feroz, A.K., Zo, H., & Chiravuri, A. (2021). Digital transformation and environmental sustainability: A review and research agenda. Sustainability, 13(3), 1530. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031530
7. Gomez-Trujillo, A.M., & Gonzalez-Perez, M.A. (2021). Digital transformation as a strategy to achieve sustainability. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 11(4), 1137–1162. https://doi.org/10.1108/sasbe-01-2021-0011
8. Guandalini, I. (2022). Sustainability through digital transformation: A systematic literature review for research guidance. Journal of Business Research, 148, 456–471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.05.003
9. Hosseini, E., & Meybodi, A. R. (2023). Proposing a model for sustainable development of creative industries based on digital transformation. Sustainability, 15(14), 11451. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411451
10. Judijanto, L., Khamaludin, K., Mahmudin, M., & Arisa, MF (2025). Sustainable business models for creative startups in the digital era. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship and Creative Technology, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.70177/jseact.v2i1.2055
11. Judijanto, L., & Wulansari, R. (2025). Transformation of marketing management in the digital economy era and its implications for sustainable development. Journal of Business and Management West Science, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.58812/jbmws.v4i02.2184
12. Katsamakas, E. (2022). Digital transformation and sustainable business models. Sustainability, 14(11), 6414. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116414
13. Kim, S.-S. (2021). Sustainable growth variables by industry sector and their influence on changes in business models of SMEs in the era of digital transformation. Sustainability, 13(13), 7114. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137114
14. Martínez-Peláez, R., Ochoa-Brust, A., Rivera, S., Félix, V.G., Ostos, R., Brito, H., Félix, R., & Mena, L.J. (2023). Role of digital transformation for achieving sustainability: Mediated role of stakeholders, key capabilities, and technology. Sustainability, 15(14), 11221. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411221
15. Mick, MMAP, Kovaleski, J.L., & Chiroli, D.M. de G. (2024). Sustainable digital transformation roadmaps for SMEs: A systematic literature review. Sustainability, 16(19), 8551. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198551
16. Murdana, I., Chan, R., Koh, M., Murdana, M., Adra, Y., & Hubbi, K. (2026). Creative economies in the digital age: Entrepreneurial management for social sustainability. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship and Creative Technology, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.70177/jseact.v3i2.3727
17. Muthuraman, S. (2026). Digital business transformation: Strategies for sustainability in entrepreneurship. Proceedings of the 2026 9th International Conference on Computers in Management and Business. https://doi.org/10.1145/3802463.3802464
18. Naldi, S., Gusty, R., & Saqdiah, F. (2025). Digital transformation and innovation management. Student Business Journal. https://doi.org/10.60036/jbm.855
19. Nichifor, B., Turcu, O., Zait, L., Ţimiraş, L., & Prihoanca, D. (2025). Strategic integration of digital technologies in sustainable business models: A cross-industry comparative study. Business Strategy and the Environment. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.70244
20. Plekhanov, D., Franke, H., & Netland, T. H. (2022). Digital transformation: A review and research agenda. European Management Journal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2022.09.007
21. Suljic, V. (2025). Strategic leadership in AI-driven digital transformation: Ethical governance, innovation management, and sustainable practices for global enterprises and SMEs. SBS Journal of Applied Business Research, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.70301/jour/sbs-jabr/2025/13/1/2
22. Vrontis, D., Chaudhuri, R., & Chatterjee, S. (2022). Adoption of digital technologies by SMEs for sustainability and value creation: Moderating role of entrepreneurial orientation. Sustainability, 14(13), 7949. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137949
23. Vulapula, S.R., Kumar, P., Suganya, R., & Aleeswari, A. (2025). Digital transformation strategies for sustainable business and smart workforce management. 2025 IEEE 3rd Global Conference on Wireless Computing and Networking (GCWCN), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1109/gcwcn66157.2025.11448485
24. Wardana, L., Ahmad, A., Indrawati, A., Maula, FI, Mahendra, A., Fatihin, M., Rahma, A., Nafisa, AF, Putri, A., & Narmaditya, BS (2022). Do digital literacy and business sustainability matter for creative economy? The role of entrepreneurial attitude. Heliyon, 8(12), e12763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12763
25. Yaqub, M. Z., & Alsabban, A. (2023). Industry-4.0-enabled digital transformation: Prospects, instruments, challenges, and implications for business strategies. Sustainability, 15(11), 8553. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118553