by Ingrid Vanessa Bernal Diaz, William Orlando Álvarez Araque, Hilda Lucia Jiménez Orozco
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the main challenges faced by small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) in their digitalization processes, and to propose strategic solutions based on specialized literature. Despite the widely recognized benefits of digitization, SMEs in the manufacturing sector lag significantly behind in their adoption. The lack of knowledge, resources and technical skills limits their ability to innovate and adapt to the current digital environment. This situation compromises their competitiveness and long-term sustainability. The research was developed under a qualitative approach, with a descriptive scope, and used documentary review as the methodological design. A bibliographic corpus of approximately 80 studies extracted from recognized academic sources was constructed, applying rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis was structured in three phases: retrieval of documents, analysis of barriers and discussion of solutions. The study offers a comprehensive look at the factors hindering the digitization of manufacturing SMEs and proposes viable and contextualized solutions. This research contributes to the field of digital transformation by systematizing barriers and strategies, and is a useful resource for entrepreneurs, policymakers and academics. Three major challenges were identified: the low perception of the benefits of digitalization, financial and technological barriers, and the cognitive gap in technical skills. These obstacles limit the use of emerging technologies and hinder the competitiveness of the sector. In addition, it became evident that the success of digitalization initiatives depends on strategic alignment, organizational cultural transformation and internal capacity building. It is suggested to implement awareness programs, facilitate access to financing through subsidies or partnerships with technology providers, and promote continuous training in digital skills. Public policies should focus on generating enabling environments and fostering multisectoral partnerships. It is necessary to move towards empirical studies that evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed solutions in specific contexts, as well as to explore the relationship between digitization, sustainability and organizational resilience in manufacturing SMEs. The effective digitalization of manufacturing SMEs has a direct impact on national competitiveness, employment and economic recovery. By strengthening their innovation capacity, these companies can become key drivers of regional economic development. It is necessary to deepen the design of collaborative training models between universities, business and government to reduce the cognitive gap, as well as to explore technological tools adapted to the particularities of SMEs in the manufacturing sector in emerging countries.
