The impact of Digitalization on Business Models: How IT Artefacts, Social Media, and Big Data Force Firms to Innovate Their Business Model

Digital technology has forced entrepreneurs to reconsider their business models (BMs). Although research on entrepreneurial intention and business models is gaining attention, there is still a large knowledge gap on both fields. In this paper, we specifically address the impact of digitalization on business model innovation (BMI). Based on data collected from 338 European small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) actively using IT artefacts, social media, or big data to innovate their business model, we study antecedents of BM experimentation and BM innovation practices, as well as overall business performance. We carried out four in-depth case studies of companies in which BM innovation is related to IT artefacts and more specifically to social media and big data. The findings from the quantitative study show that BMI is related to IT artefacts, social media, and big data. Use of IT artefacts, social media, and big data is mainly driven by strategic and innovation-related internal motives, although external technology turbulence plays a role too. BM innovation driven by IT artefacts, social media, and big data has an impact on performance. Although the case studies show that this is more evident for IT artefacts and big data than for social media.