ABSTRACT
The impacts of COVID-19 are expected to shutter business performance globally. Though, very little early evidence on the impacts is recorded currently. Small business owners are expected to be hugely impacted compared to larger business counterparts. This is a result of limitations in financial capabilities, skills, and human resources. Small and Mid-size Enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in the resilience and sustainability of economic growth globally. An early-stage loss to business activity as a result of COVID-19 has significant implications for future economic inequality, income losses, and policy. This has triggered research into sustainability measures suitable for business maturity and to improve operational performance. Research is addressing issues ranging from developing a digital platform suitable for the collection of systems and automating its processes. This study complements publications that develop a technological and digital landscape by further expatiating on digital transformation issues and smart operational implementations in the context of SMEs. This study initiates by systematically identifying relevant contemporary publications on SME digitalization using the Scopus database. The documents are then reviewed by focusing on the crucial factors and current systems that influence the process of digital transformations for SMEs. The results facilitate sustainable business value and are crucial as a reference document that guides SMEs for future smart operational implementations. Copyright, American Society for Engineering Management, 2022.