Digital transformation and sustainability: mapping research gaps and thematic connections

Mocanu, D.-E., (Naum), D.-M. P., State, O., & Țală, M.-L. (2025). Digital transformation and sustainability: mapping research gaps and thematic connections. CACTUS Tourism Journal, 31 (1). doi.org/10.24818/CTS/7/2025/1.07

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Abstract

The intersection of digital transformation and sustainability is increasingly recognized as a critical area of research, but the academic literature remains fragmented and lacks integrative frameworks. A review of previous studies shows that while digital technologies such as AI, IoT and big data offer significant opportunities to advance sustainability goals, research has mainly focused on a few sectors and regions, with persistent gaps unstandardized impact metrics, theoretical integration and attention to the environmental footprint of digital solutions. To address these limitations, this article applies Systematic Network Literature Analysis, combining systematic literature review with advanced bibliometric analysis using VOS viewer. Our process began with 357articles identified in the Web of Science database using the keywords “digital transformation” and “sustainability”; after applying category and document-type filters, 68 articles published between 2016 and 2025were selected for in-depth analysis. Our analysis empirically shows that, in addition to the central concepts of "digital transformation” and “sustainability,” the literature is grouped around subtopics from the fields of business and management: Technological Enablers (e.g., big data, industry 4.0), Innovation and Business Models(e.g., business model innovation), Performance and Impact (e.g., performance, challenges) and Sustainability Dimensions (e.g., environmental sustainability, circular economy). Co-occurrence and citation analyses not only confirm known sectoral and geographical imbalances but also provide new insights by quantifying the density and interconnections of key concepts and highlighting underexplored sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and education. This structured mapping advances the field by offering a visualized knowledge map and revealing actionable research gaps and emerging trends.

Keywords

digital transformation, sustainability, business, management, bibliometric analysis

JEL Classification

M1, M2, Q5, O33

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