Barriers to Digital Transformation in Sri Lanka's Maritime Industry

Abstract

This research investigates the digitalization of Sri Lanka's maritime industry, focusing on identifying barriers, analyzing relationships, and evaluating digital transformation potential within import, export, and freight-forwarding operations. Using a systematic review, the study identifies key barriers to digitalization, including organizational and management-related, operational, resource-related, market-related, and technological barriers. A survey was conducted, and 148 responses were collected for this research. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis is employed to explore the relationships between these barriers and the levels of digitalization. The results reveal that all types of barriers significantly impact the level of digitalization in Sri Lanka's maritime industry, with organizational and management-related barriers having the highest impact. Additionally, ordinal data analysis is conducted to assess the gap between the current and potential levels of digitalization. The study highlights significant gaps in import, export, and freight-forwarding processes. The findings provide actionable insights and a comprehensive framework to guide stakeholders in overcoming barriers, enhancing digital adoption, improving operational efficiency, and achieving a competitive advantage in the maritime sector.