Toward sustainable strategies and digitalization: The impact on firm performance in Mexican manufacturing companies

Abstract

Sustainable strategies and digitalization play central roles in the transition of manufacturing companies toward the development of sustainable products and services. This study examines whether the implementation of environmental care strategies and the integration of advanced technological tools influence firm performance. It also explores the indirect effect of sustainable strategies on performance through digitalization in manufacturing organizations. To test these relationships, the study applies a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique to a sample of 120 firms in the manufacturing sector in Coahuila, Mexico. The results indicate that when organizations implement energy conservation practices, reduce waste generation, and undertake energy infrastructure projects—combined with the adoption of advanced technologies that support information integration and analysis—they achieve higher levels of performance. These findings offer important implications for managerial decision-making and for the development of public policies aimed at promoting sustainability-oriented strategies and digital transformation in small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries.