Embracing digital interactive platforms for rapid internationalization

Abstract

Digital interactive platforms (DIP) enhance communication in a growing online interaction and promote innovation in small business operations. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the interactions between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and stakeholders via DIP and the factors contributing to accelerating internationalization. Therefore, this study aims to explore the DIP used by SMEs to interact with service providers to accelerate their internationalization. This study applied the case study methodology and used a dyadic process with selected service providers and Malaysian manufacturing SMEs. The findings of this study examine the interactions of SMEs and service providers, specifically through DIP. From the analysis, two factors contributing to SMEs' rapid internationalization can be deduced. The novelty of this study is that it contributes to the understanding of the DIP used by SMEs to interact with service providers and identifies internal resources and the external environment as DIP factors for SMEs' rapid internationalization. A framework is provided for SMEs to use DIP for rapid internationalization.