Digitization and social response of SMEs to the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Digitalization is crucial for the long-term viability of small businesses in the new economy. As global digitalization accelerates, Kazakhstan- s small and medium-sized enterprises should use the digital economy to promote economic growth. More and more companies are switching to digital technologies: more and more companies, especially import and export companies, are using digital technologies to adapt to the crisis.This article conducted an online survey of 400 Kazakhstani SMEs, which examines the relationship between digitalization, strategies for responding to the COVID-19 crisis. The survey results clearly show that digitalization helps SMEs to take emergency response measures, as well as to respond strategically to social crises in the long term, thereby contributing to the improvement of the performance of SMEs.