Digital Transformation as a Catalyst for Multidimensional Sustainable Business Performance: Policy Moderation and Empirical Insights from Global Industries

Abstract

Amid the global climate crisis and urgent UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sustainable business has shifted from a "peripheral strategy" to a core driver of corporate long-term value. This study integrates six key sustainable business dimensions (circular economy, corporate responsibility, etc.) to explore how digital technologies (AI, IoT, big data) optimize sustainable practices. Using a mixed-methods approach, it includes a 2022-2024 quantitative survey of 523 firms (manufacturing, tourism, services) and qualitative case studies of 4 leaders (BYD, Airbnb, JD Logistics, Unilever). Results show: (1) Digital transformation boosts circular economy resource efficiency by 37.2% via IoT real-time monitoring; (2) Stakeholder engagement, mediated by transparent CSR reporting, correlates with financial performance (r=0.62, p<0.01); (3) Regional policy heterogeneity (EU Green Deal vs. China’s "Dual Carbon") affects transition speed, with emerging economies needing targeted support. The study provides theoretical and practical guidance for digital-sustainable integration.

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