A Model for Assessing the Digital Transformation Maturity of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Agro-Industrial Service Sector

Abstract

The article presents a study aimed at developing, empirically testing, and practically implementing an original digital transformation (DT) maturity assessment model for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the service sector of the agro-industrial complex (AIC). The relevance of the study is driven by the need to adapt small businesses to technological challenges while considering the specific barriers of the agricultural sector, such as high seasonality, territorial dispersion, process conservatism, and strict resource constraints. The study aims to create a specialized diagnostic tool for objectively assessing digital development and determining strategic priorities for service SMEs. The methodological framework is based on a survey of 210 executives of service SMEs across seven agricultural regions of the Russian Federation conducted between 2025 and 2026. The developed five-dimensional model is based on assessing key domains: strategy and leadership, infrastructure, operational processes, human capital, and customer relations. Empirical factor analysis (Varimax rotation) confirmed the model's high reliability (72.8% of variance explained). The author identified three distinct clusters: «Digital Novices» (38%), «Proactive Adapters» (45%), and «Integrated Leaders» (17%). Statistical analysis revealed a direct positive correlation between digital maturity and key economic indicators, including revenue growth and operational cost optimization. The practical significance lies in providing applied diagnostic tools and digitalization roadmaps for corporate management and regional government support agencies.