The Impact of Digital Transformation on Corporate Performance: Based on Shanghai and Shenzhen A-Share Listed Companies

Purpose - This paper studies the impact of digital transformation on corporate performance based on the stakeholder and dynamic capability theories. Digital transformation is divided into digital technologies (big data, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cloud computing) and digital technology practical applications. Corporate performance includes financial performance and non-financial performance. The mechanism of dynamic capabilities (innovation capability, absorptive capacity, and adaptive capacity) is further explored. Design/methodology/approach - A fixed-effects model is used to construct a panel data of China’s Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2023, and Stata is used for empirical analysis. Findings - In general, digital transformation directly improves corporate performance and indirectly promotes corporate performance through dynamic capabilities (innovation, absorptive capacity, and adaptive capacity). After robustness and endogeneity tests, the conclusion still support. In terms of subdivision, the two dimensions of digital transformation and the practical application of digital technology have different effects on corporate financial performance and non-financial performance. Research implications or Originality - Theoretically, the mechanism of digital transformation on corporate performance is fully and deeply explored, filling the research gap whiting this study. Additionally, the model is constructed using the innovation, absorption and adaptability of dynamic capabilities, providing a different perspective. Practically, it helps to alleviate the current situation of some companies “not wanting to transform” or “not daring to transform”, and also clarifies how digital transformation can help companies use dynamic capabilities to improve performance. It provides a decision-making basis for government departments to promote the integration of digital economy and real economy, so that digital transformation can better empower and release corporate performance, thereby promoting the development of China's economy.