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Innovation and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are associated with economic development and industrial revitalization. Innovation and digitalization have long been established as the primary contributors to improved business performance in SMEs, and digitalization is becoming increasingly regarded as enabling the transformation of business model and operational capabilities. However, South African SMEs face many challenges in adopting digitization and fostering innovation. This paper critically examines how South African SMEs can systematically leverage business innovation and digitalization to acquire sustainable competitive advantage. The study used a systematic literature review approach, focusing on literature published from 2019 through 2024. Through database analysis of academic literature and industry trends, the study aimed to discover the best practices, barriers, and the role of external partnerships in fostering innovation and digital transformation. The findings indicate that SMEs that emphasize innovation and digital technology improve their productivity and competitiveness. However, obstacles including a lack of funding, expertise, and restricted access to technology prevent many SMEs from reaching their full potential. To overcome these obstacles and promote a culture of ongoing innovation, cooperation with outside partners and emphasis on consumer interactions is crucial. This article contributes to innovation in the digital transformation landscape of SMEs by offering approaches and frameworks for South African SMEs to facilitate the adoption of innovation and digitization for sustainable competitive advantage. This addresses a core gap by guiding how to overcome barriers such as constraints of resources and focus on collaborative networks to drive digital and innovative growth.

The automotive industry is standing on the edge of the digital era. Digitization is the motivating force behind this change and is influencing every aspect of consumer behavior. Forces behind this digital transformation are the new technological possibilities which range from comprehensive connectivity, 3D printing, and the social network of virtual solutions as well. The impact of digitization can already be seen in today’s world and also in the automotive industry of India. Digitization will play an imperative role in the upcoming years such as artificial intelligence. This paper is primarily concerned with the recent trends of digitization and it also tries to measure the impact of digitization on the automobile supply chain between automobile manufacturers and suppliers. It is discussed the thrust on the potentialities of digitalization in the automobile industry of India and its impact on the overall performance of the industry. The study concluded that digitization has a significant impact on the automotive industry of India. Today, all the business practices become digitalized and foreign players use advanced technology in their products as compared to the national automotive players. The selling of automotive products is increased after the adoption of more advanced technology. It upgrades the quality of products and its service after sale which ultimately leads to the customer and brand loyalty used by the consumers.

Today, where competition among sectors is more intense and harder than ever, enterprises have started to implement innovations in their strategies. These new strategy moves are mainly on technology, informatics and software. The companies have focused on their investments in social network advertising in order to keep themselves at the forefront and increase their profit rates. In this article, it has been determined that businesses can develop their competitive advantage by creating new strategies in a digital environment.