In recent years, the convergence of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, the Internet of Things, and blockchain with sustainability goals has triggered a paradigm shift in how organisations approach business operations. The rise of digital transformation is not only driving innovation but also unlocking new opportunities to enhance environmental responsibility, economic growth, and social equity. As organizations aim to adopt greener business practices, the integration of digital solutions presents both opportunities and challenges for achieving sustainable operations.

The digital transformation of business operations is redefining a new future for organisational practices, such as supply chain management, human resources, finance, marketing, and customer relations. The infusion of emerging technologies into these areas is changing not just how businesses operate but also how they engage with stakeholders and customers. For example, AI and IoT are enabling resource allocation, while blockchain enhances transparency and accountability in supply chains, facilitating better decision-making. However, these shifts are not without their challenges, including data privacy concerns, cybersecurity risks, and the complex task of aligning new technologies with existing business models.

This Collection seeks to explore the diverse dimensions of digital transformation and its impact on sustainable business practices. Key questions include: How do organisations leverage digital technologies to drive eco-friendly operations? What are the barriers that prevent companies from fully embracing these innovations? What ethical considerations emerge emerge from the intersection of sustainability and digitalisation? Addressing these questions is imperative as businesses around the world navigate the transition towards sustainability while optimising their digital strategies. Scholars, practitioners, and industry experts must collaborate to develop frameworks, policies, and solutions that enable businesses to achieve both operational efficiency and environmental stewardship.

This Collection represents a significant contribution to the growing body of knowledge on digital transformation and sustainability. By providing both theoretical and practical perspectives for understanding the complexities of integrating technologies into business operations, this Collection will contribute to several academic fields, including operations management, sustainability studies, organisational behaviour, and information systems. Below, we outline the primary contributions of this Collection:

Technology and Operations Management: This Collection will contribute to a deeper understanding of digital operations management by examining how organisations adopt and integrate emerging technologies to optimise business processes.

Sustainability and Resource Efficiency: This Collection will explore how digital solutions such as AI, IoT, and blockchain are facilitating sustainable business models and practices such as resource management, reducing waste, and enhancing energy efficiency across industries.

Business Strategy and Digitalisation: The Collection will provide insights into how digital transformation affects corporate strategies, emphasizing the long-term sustainability of businesses in a competitive market.

Ethical Considerations: The integration of AI and other digital tools into business operations raises ethical concerns about fairness, transparency, and social impact, which this Collection aims to address by offering evidence-based insights.

Technology in Human Resource Management: This Collection will look at the impact of digital transformation on HR practices, including talent acquisition, employee development, and work environment design.

Promote Practical Solutions: Emphasizing real-world applications, the Collection will provide concrete strategies and frameworks for businesses seeking to operationalise digital sustainability, making it highly relevant for policymakers, corporate leaders, and practitioners.

By combining rigorous theoretical insights with empirical research, this Collection aims to provide a holistic view of how businesses can leverage digital transformation to achieve sustainable growth. Contributions from diverse academic disciplines ranging from technology, business ethics, sustainability, to organisational management will help provide a comprehensive framework for addressing the challenges and opportunities that arise at this intersection.

We invite submissions from scholars and practitioners that draw on various theoretical frameworks, including but not limited to: Resource-Based View, Dynamic Capabilities Theory, Green Innovation Theory, Sociotechnical Systems Theory, Triple Bottom Line Framework and Technology Acceptance Model. We welcome both qualitative and quantitative research, as well as mixed-methods approaches that provide rigorous theoretical and practical insights.

Possible Topic Areas:

We invite submissions on, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Leveraging Digital Technologies for Sustainable Business Practices: Investigate how businesses utilise AI, IoT, and blockchain to promote environmental responsibility and sustainable resource management.

• Barriers to Digital Sustainability Integration: Explore the challenges organisations face when aligning digital solutions with sustainability goals, including technical, organisational, and regulatory hurdles.

• Transforming Business Models through Digitalisation: Examine how digital tools are reshaping traditional business models to drive long-term sustainability in various industries.

• Ethical Implications of Digital and Sustainable Practices: Delve into the ethical concerns arising from the use of AI and other digital technologies in sustainable business operations, including issues of fairness, transparency, and data privacy.

• Digital Innovation and Organisational Change for Sustainability: Analyse how businesses are restructuring their operations to integrate new digital technologies while maintaining a focus on sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives.

• Role of Digital Transformation in Supply Chain Sustainability: Assess how digital technologies are improving supply chain transparency, reducing waste, and enhancing resource efficiency for a more sustainable business ecosystem.

• Impact of Digitalisation on Employee Engagement in Sustainable Practices: Investigate how digital transformation influences employee behaviour, well-being, and their ability to contribute to organisational sustainability goals.

• Digital Tools for Measuring and Reporting Sustainability: Discuss the role of digital technologies in tracking, reporting, and improving sustainability metrics in business operations.

• Green Business Strategy and Technology Adoption: Explore how businesses are aligning their green strategies with digital innovations, and how these synergies support broader sustainability objectives.

• The Future of Business Sustainability in the Digital Era: Forecast the evolving role of digital transformation in advancing sustainability efforts across various industries and global markets.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 9

Keywords: Digital Transformation; Sustainable Business; Technology Integration; Business Operations; Innovation in Sustainability; Challenges in Digital Adoption; Green Technologies; Smart Business Practices; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Business Process Optimization