KPI-based Framework for Digital Transformation in SME Supply Chains

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face increasing pressure to digitally transform their supply chains to remain competitive and resilient. This paper proposes a Key Performance Indicator (KPI)-based conceptual framework that supports a structured approach to assessing digital transformation in SME supply chains. The study is based on a systematic literature review (SLR) of 27 peer-reviewed articles published between 2013 and 2024, covering digital transformation, performance measurement, and SME supply chain contexts. The framework organizes KPIs into six dimensions - financial, operational, customer, innovation and growth, sustainability, and ethical-human-centric - and maps them to three digital maturity levels (initial, intermediate, advanced) and transformation stages (awareness and evaluation, implementation and integration, optimization and scaling). The results highlight how KPIs function not only as evaluative metrics but also as enablers that guide decision-making and track progress in digital transformation pathways.