Process Digitalization, Data Quality, and Enterprise Competitive Advantages

Zhen Jie; Xie Zongxiao; Dong Kunxiang; Chen Lin

doi:doi:10.16538/j.cnki.jsufe.2025.05.002

Summary

Under the accelerating process of data elementization, data quality has emerged as a strategic resource for enterprises. Based on the resource-based theory, this paper constructs a theoretical model of process digitalization, data quality, and competitive advantages to investigate how enterprises realize the value conversion of data resources through process reengineering. Focusing on the three dimensions of data quality, i.e., integrity, security, and accuracy, this paper reveals their differentiated transmission mechanisms. Through a two-phase questionnaire survey of 167 enterprises, it uses Smart PLS 2.0 and SPSS 22.0 Process plugin for structural equation modeling and Bootstrap mediation effect tests. The study shows that: (1) Process digitalization enhances data integrity and accuracy, while its promotion effect on safety is limited. (2) Data integrity and accuracy partially mediate the impact of process digitalization on competitive advantages, whereas security shows insignificant mediation. (3) Process digitalization has both direct and indirect influences on competitive advantages, validating the transmission logic of “process digitization-data quality-enterprise competitive advantages”. This paper transcends the homogeneous perspective of traditional data quality research by unveiling the differential effects of multi-dimensional data quality, expands the explanatory boundaries of the resource-based theory, and provides practical insights for enterprises including phased advancement of process digitalization, prioritized improvement of data integrity, and dynamic balance of security investments.