Has enterprise digital transformation improved the efficiency of enterprise technological innovation? A case study on Chinese listed companies.

Abstract

Digital transformation is a new driving force of enterprise efficiency reform. Enterprises' digital transformation can effectively improve their technological innovation efficiency, thereby promoting their high-quality development. Using the panel data of 930 Chinese A-share listed companies from 2015 to 2020, we have studied the impact and heterogeneity of digital transformation on enterprise technological innovation efficiency with a panel data model. Further, a mediating effect model and a moderating effect model were constructed to study the mechanism of digital transformation affecting the efficiency of enterprise technological innovation. The conclusions are as follows. First, enterprise digital transformation significantly improves the efficiency of enterprise technological innovation. Second, the impact of digital transformation on the efficiency of enterprise technological innovation is heterogeneous, which is reflected in two aspects: the factor intensity and the nature of ownership. Third, financing constraints and equity concentration play a mediating and a moderating role, respectively, in the impact of digital transformation on the efficiency of enterprise technological innovation.