BI in SMEs Boosts Competitiveness and Decision-Making

Abstract

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face increasing pressure to enhance competitiveness through data-informed strategies in the digital economy. Business Intelligence (BI) has emerged as a critical enabler, yet the mechanisms linking its adoption to performance outcomes in resource-constrained environments remain underexplored. This qualitative systematic review synthesizes the literature on BI applications in SMEs to examine how these tools reconfigure decision-making processes, contribute to competitiveness, and generate economic value, while critically analyzing implementation realities specific to the SME context. Following the PRISMA 2020 statement, a systematic search of the Scopus database (2018–2021) yielded 2,130 records. After a dual-independent screening process, 68 studies met the inclusion criteria and were subjected to Reflexive Thematic Analysis, enabling an interpretive synthesis of the literature. The analysis reveals three overarching themes. Strategic Reconstitution of Decision-Making describes a shift from intuition to evidence-based managerial cognition, alongside a persistent perception gap where leaders underestimate their existing data assets. Duality of BI Implementation captures the tension between idealized architectural models and the pragmatic reality of SMEs, which employ entrepreneurial bricolage—using low-cost, accessible tools—a strategy that enables accessibility but risks creating competency traps. Multidimensional Impact on SME Economic Vitality encompasses quantifiable financial gains, such as cost reductions and improved financial health, and intangible strategic capabilities, including organizational agility and enhanced dynamic capabilities that underpin sustained competitive advantage. BI enables SMEs to enhance strategic decision-making and profitability; however, value realization is contingent upon the interplay between resource configurations, capability development, and managerial cognition. The integration of PRISMA with Thematic Analysis demonstrates how procedural rigor and interpretative depth can be synergistically combined in qualitative evidence synthesis.