[go: up one dir, main page]
More Web Proxy on the site http://driver.im/
IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i4p1550-d1337766.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Digitization as an Adaptation and Resilience Measure for MSMEs amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: Lessons from the Food Service Industry for Collaborative Future Engagements

Author

Listed:
  • Tomo Kawane

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University (SFC), 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-shi 252-0882, Kanagawa, Japan)

  • Bismark Adu-Gyamfi

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University (SFC), 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-shi 252-0882, Kanagawa, Japan)

  • Yuqiu Cao

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University (SFC), 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-shi 252-0882, Kanagawa, Japan)

  • Yinjia Zhang

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University (SFC), 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-shi 252-0882, Kanagawa, Japan)

  • Nanami Yamazawa

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University (SFC), 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-shi 252-0882, Kanagawa, Japan)

  • Zuquan He

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University (SFC), 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-shi 252-0882, Kanagawa, Japan)

  • Rajib Shaw

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University (SFC), 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-shi 252-0882, Kanagawa, Japan)

Abstract
Restrictions and other stringent countermeasures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have wreaked havoc on many enterprises over the past few years. The effect on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is believed to be far-reaching. In most countries, the MSME sector provides the maximum number of jobs, and its resilience is core to the livelihood of that society; Japan is no exception to this. The food service industry was classified as an essential service during the pandemic, and advancements in technology and other digital innovations were seen as revolutionary to many enterprises to diversify their business models to reduce losses. This study reviews how MSMEs in the food service industry utilized technologies and innovations to adapt to the challenges and enhance their resilience. The paper reviews secondary datasets to discuss the perspectives of MSMEs and the impact of the pandemic, as well as utilizing Gotanda Eats as a case example in Japan to understand the method of digital adaption towards resilience. The Gotanda Eats platform was crucial for the survival of the five restaurants involved because it transformed their old business operations into the one that connects them to customers while observing infection prevention protocols. Despite the challenges that are visible in the delivery aspect of the platform, the operation shows that digitization and digital transformation are vital for MSMEs in times of crisis. The World Economic Forum 2021 report has focused on digital power concentration as a new risk, the current study shows that digitization in food-related MSMEs was a critical survival strategy. The study recommends that local authorities take a keen interest in supporting local businesses during hard times.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomo Kawane & Bismark Adu-Gyamfi & Yuqiu Cao & Yinjia Zhang & Nanami Yamazawa & Zuquan He & Rajib Shaw, 2024. "Digitization as an Adaptation and Resilience Measure for MSMEs amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: Lessons from the Food Service Industry for Collaborative Future Engagements," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:4:p:1550-:d:1337766
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/4/1550/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/4/1550/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shinozaki, Shigehiro & Rao, Lakshman N., 2021. "COVID-19 Impact on Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises under the Lockdown: Evidence from a Rapid Survey in the Philippines," ADBI Working Papers 1216, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    2. Dai, Ruochen & Feng, Hao & Hu, Junpeng & Jin, Quan & Li, Huiwen & Wang, Ranran & Wang, Ruixin & Xu, Lihe & Zhang, Xiaobo, 2021. "The impact of COVID-19 on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): Evidence from two-wave phone surveys in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kumar, Pavan & Singh, S.S. & Pandey, A.K. & Singh, Ram Kumar & Srivastava, Prashant Kumar & Kumar, Manoj & Dubey, Shantanu Kumar & Sah, Uma & Nandan, Rajiv & Singh, Susheel Kumar & Agrawal, Priyanshi , 2021. "Multi-level impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown on agricultural systems in India: The case of Uttar Pradesh," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    2. Collin Chikwira, 2023. "The Foreign Exchange Auction System’s Effect on SME Stability and Performance," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 13(5), pages 96-108, September.
    3. Wu, Jianxin & Zhan, Xiaoling & Xu, Hui & Ma, Chunbo, 2023. "The economic impacts of COVID-19 and city lockdown: Early evidence from China," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 151-165.
    4. Marina Yu. Malkina, 2021. "How the 2020 pandemic affected tax revenues in Russian regions?," Equilibrium. Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 16(2), pages 239-260, June.
    5. Chen, Xi & Qiu, Yun & Shi, Wei & Yu, Pei, 2022. "Key links in network interactions: Assessing route-specific travel restrictions in China during the Covid-19 pandemic," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    6. Igarashi, Takiko & Takeda, Asami & Truong, Hoa T. & Sonobe, Tetsushi, 2022. "Evolving Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Asia," ADBI Working Papers 1286, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    7. Chen, Yutong & Debnath, Sisir & Sekhri, Sheetal & Sekhri, Vishal, 2023. "The impact of Covid-19 containment lockdowns on MSMEs in India and resilience of exporting firms," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 320-341.
    8. Yang, Song, 2022. "Are private equity and venture capital helping small and medium-sized enterprises during the COVID-19 pandemic? Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 1-14.
    9. Yan, Huanmin & Liu, Zhenyu & Wang, Haoyu & Zhang, Xuehua & Zheng, Xilei, 2022. "How does the COVID-19 affect earnings management: Empirical evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    10. Fang,Sheng & Goh,Chorching & Li,Shaomin & Xu,L. Colin, 2022. "Firm Resources, Strategies, and Survival and Growth during COVID-19: Evidence from Two-WaveGlobal Surveys," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9997, The World Bank.
    11. Anna Spoz & Ilona Skibinska-Fabrowska & Grzegorz Kotlinski & Helena Zukowska, 2021. "The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Financial Performance of Public Companies in Poland," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 955-976.
    12. Chen, Joy & Cheng, Zijun & Gong, Robin Kaiji & Li, Jinlin, 2022. "Riding out the COVID-19 storm: How government policies affect SMEs in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    13. Antonio Jr Estrada Etrata & Jackie Lou Raborar, 2022. "The Filipino generation Z’s entrepreneurial intention: What drives their business mindedness?," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 11(2), pages 57-66, March.
    14. Liang, Xiao & Rozelle, Scott & Yi, Hongmei, 2022. "The impact of COVID-19 on employment and income of vocational graduates in China: Evidence from surveys in January and July 2020," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    15. Jiang, Dequan & Lan, Meng & Li, Weiping & Shen, Yongjian, 2024. "Threat or opportunity? Unveiling the impact of population aging on corporate labor investment efficiency," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    16. Liu, Qingfu & Shi, Chen & Tse, Yiuman & Zhang, Linlin, 2023. "The impact of public health emergencies on small and medium-sized enterprises: Evidence from China," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    17. Aneta Włodarczyk & Agata Mesjasz-Lech, 2021. "Ecological and Economic Context of Managing Enterprises That Are Particularly Harmful to the Environment and the Well-Being of Society," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-24, May.
    18. Uma Shankar Yadav & Ravindra Tripathi & Mano Ashish Tripathi, 2022. "Adverse impact of lockdown during COVID-19 pandemic on micro-small and medium enterprises (Indian handicraft sector): A study on highlighted exit strategies and important determinants," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, December.
    19. Cong, Lin William & Yang, Xiaohan & Zhang, Xiaobo, 2021. "SMEs Amidst the Pandemic and Reopening: Digital Edge and Transformation," Applied Economics and Policy Working Paper Series 317045, Cornell University, Department of Applied Economics and Management.
    20. Zhu, Jun & Ho, Kung-Cheng & Luo, Sijia & Peng, Langchuan, 2023. "Pandemic and tax avoidance: Cross-country evidence," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:4:p:1550-:d:1337766. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.