Digital Business Model Innovation and Business Performance: The Mediating Role of Digital Capability
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51903/btjy4j26Keywords:
Business Performance, Digital Business Model Innovation, Digital Capability, Digital Transformation, PLS-SEMAbstract
Digital transformation has encouraged firms to redesign how they create, deliver, and capture value and to develop digital capabilities that can support these changes. This study examines the modeled relationship between Digital Business Model Innovation (DBMI), Digital Capability, and Business Performance, with Digital Capability specified as a mediator. A quantitative explanatory design was applied using 180 simulated observations for methodological and analytical practice. The data were generated from predefined measurement dimensions and a specified correlation structure, then analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS. In the simulated model, DBMI was positively associated with Business Performance (β = 0.412; p < 0.001) and Digital Capability (β = 0.736; p < 0.001), while Digital Capability was positively associated with Business Performance (β = 0.451; p < 0.001). The indirect effect was also significant (β = 0.332; p < 0.001), indicating a partial mediation pattern in the simulated model. These results illustrate how the proposed DBMI → Digital Capability → Business Performance mechanism can be examined using PLS-SEM. They should not be interpreted as evidence that DBMI causes improvements in actual firms. The study therefore provides a methodological illustration of the proposed relationships and identifies implications that require validation with empirical organizational data
References
Carlos da Silva Freitas Junior, J., Limongi, R., Editors, G., Zanela Klein, A., Pedron, C., Elaluf-Calderwood, S., Ng Picoto, W., Anastacio, E., Rafael, S., Carlos Gastaud Maçada, A., & Alfonso Brinkhues, R. (2024). Digital Capabilities on Business Performance: Does It Matter? Brazilian Administration Review, 21(4), e230128–e230128. https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-76922024230128
Fang, T. M., Ahmad, N. H., Halim, H. A., Iqbal, Q., & Ramayah, T. (2024). Pathway towards SME competitiveness: Digital capability and digital business model innovation. Technology in Society, 79, 102728. https://doi.org/10.1016/2024.102728
Fauzi, A., Nayyiroh, F. U., Aisyah, S., Laila, N., & Abadi, F. (2025). Shadow Economy Management Strategies in Digital Business Ecosystems. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen, Ekonomi Dan Bisnis, 4(1), 46–57. https://doi.org/10.51903/9C339
Ferreira, J. J. M., Fernandes, C. I., & Veiga, P. M. (2024). The effects of knowledge spillovers, digital capabilities, and innovation on firm performance: A moderated mediation model. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 200, 123086. https://doi.org/10.1016/2023.123086
Freitas Junior, J. C. da S., Maçada, A. C. G., & Brinkhues, R. A. (2024). Digital Capabilities on Business Performance: Does It Matter? BAR - Brazilian Administration Review, 21(4), e230128. https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-76922024230128
Guo, H., Guo, A., & Ma, H. (2022). Inside the black box: How business model innovation contributes to digital start-up performance. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 7(2), 100188. https://doi.org/10.1016/2022.100188
Hair, J. F., Astrachan, C. B., Moisescu, O. I., Radomir, L., Sarstedt, M., Vaithilingam, S., & Ringle, C. M. (2021). Executing and interpreting applications of PLS-SEM: Updates for family business researchers. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 12(3), 100392. https://doi.org/10.1016/2020.100392
Heredia, J., Castillo-Vergara, M., Geldes, C., Carbajal Gamarra, F. M., Flores, A., & Heredia, W. (2022). How do digital capabilities affect firm performance? The mediating role of technological capabilities in the “new normal.” Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 7(2), 100171. https://doi.org/10.1016/2022.100171
Jing, H., Zhang, Y., & Ma, J. (2023). Influence of digital ambidextrous capabilities on SMEs’ transformation performance: The mediating effect of business model innovation. Heliyon, 9(11), e21020. https://doi.org/10.1016/2023.21020
Joensuu-Salo, S., & Matalamäki, M. (2023). The Impact of Digital Capability on Firm Performance and Growth in Incumbent SMEs. Https://Doi.Org/10.1142/S0218495823500073, 31(02), 211–232. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218495823500073
Karmilah, K., Hasnawati, H., & Wardhani, N. K. (2024). Digitalisasi Mempengaruhi Kinerja Perusahaan: Peran dari Bisnis Model Inovasi (Evidence from Indonesia). Owner : Riset Dan Jurnal Akuntansi, 8(3), 2205–2215. https://doi.org/10.33395/8I3.2229
Latifi, M. A., Nikou, S., & Bouwman, H. (2021). Business model innovation and firm performance: Exploring causal mechanisms in SMEs. Technovation, 107, 102274. https://doi.org/10.1016/2021.102274
Liu, L., Cui, L., Han, Q., & Zhang, C. (2024). The impact of digital capabilities and dynamic capabilities on business model innovation: the moderating effect of organizational inertia. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 2024 11:1, 11(1), 420-. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-02910
Masitoh, G., Rohmah, M., Carolina, D., Azmiyati, A., Ekonomi, P., Tinggi Ilmu Ekonomi Mulia Darma Pratama, S., & Selatan, S. (2025). Tren dan Tantangan Transformasi Digital pada UMKM: Systematic Literatur Review. Kompak :Jurnal Ilmiah Komputerisasi Akuntansi , 18(2), 466–477. https://doi.org/10.51903/18I2.2872
Menter, M., Göcke, L., Zeeb, C., & Clauss, T. (2023). Disentangling the complex longitudinal relationships between business model innovation and firm performance. Journal of Business Research, 168, 114229. https://doi.org/10.1016/2023.114229
Prakasa, Y., & Jumani, Z. A. (2024). Linking digital capability to small business performance: the mediating role of digital business transformation. Cogent Business & Management, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2342486
Pramudita, E., Achmadi, H., & Nurhaida, H. (2023). Determinants of behavioral intention toward telemedicine services among Indonesian Gen-Z and Millenials: a PLS–SEM study on Alodokter application. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 2023 12:1, 12(1), 68-. https://doi.org/10.1186/S13731-023-00336-6
Rizaldi, M. A., Mulyana, R., & Ramadani, L. (2024). Digital Transformation of BPRACo by Designing IT Governance with COBIT 2019 SME Focus Area. Kompak :Jurnal Ilmiah Komputerisasi Akuntansi , 17(2), 349–365. https://doi.org/10.51903/17I2.2072
Salfore, N., Ensermu, M., & Kinde, Z. (2023). Business model innovation and firm performance: Evidence from manufacturing SMEs. Heliyon, 9(6), e16384. https://doi.org/10.1016/2023.E16384
Samsuden, N. S., Kohar, U. H. A., Khatib, S. F. A., & Abbas, A. F. (2024). Digital Capabilities and Business Performance: A Systematic Literature Review. Sustainability 2024, Vol. 16, Page 11108, 16(24), 11108. https://doi.org/10.3390/162411108
Sarstedt, M., & Moisescu, O. I. (2023). Quantifying uncertainty in PLS-SEM-based mediation analyses. Journal of Marketing Analytics 2023 12:1, 12(1), 87–96. https://doi.org/10.1057/S41270-023-00231-9
Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M., & Hair, J. F. (2021). Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling. Handbook of Market Research, 1–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05542-8_15-2
Sjödin, D., Parida, V., Palmié, M., & Wincent, J. (2021). How AI capabilities enable business model innovation: Scaling AI through co-evolutionary processes and feedback loops. Journal of Business Research, 134, 574–587. https://doi.org/10.1016/2021.05.009
Susilo, B. W., & Susanto, E. (2024). Employing Artificial Intelligence in Management Information Systems to Improve Business Efficiency. Journal of Management and Informatics, 3(2), 212–229. https://doi.org/10.51903/3I2.30
Tavoletti, E., Kazemargi, N., Cerruti, C., Grieco, C., & Appolloni, A. (2022). Business model innovation and digital transformation in global management consulting firms. European Journal of Innovation Management, 25(6), 612–636. https://doi.org/10.1108/11-2020-0443
Trischler, M. F. G., & Li-Ying, J. (2022). Digital business model innovation: toward construct clarity and future research directions. Review of Managerial Science 2021 17:1, 17(1), 3–32. https://doi.org/10.1007/11846-021-00508-2
Tsai, W. Y., & Su, C. J. (2022). Digital transformation of business model innovation. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1017750. https://doi.org/10.3389/2022.1017750
Van Tonder, C., Bossink, B., Schachtebeck, C., & Nieuwenhuizen, C. (2024). The effect of digitally-driven business model innovation on business performance. Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 36(6), 944–977. https://doi.org/10.1080/08276331.2023.2239039
Wang, Z., Lin, S., Chen, Y., Lyulyov, O., & Pimonenko, T. (2023). Digitalization Effect on Business Performance: Role of Business Model Innovation. Sustainability 2023, Vol. 15, Page 9020, 15(11), 9020. https://doi.org/10.3390/15119020
Xiao, Y., Tian, C., Wu, J., & Luo, J. (2023). Digital Capability and Business Model Innovation by Big Data Technology: The Mediating Role of Resource Reconfiguration. International Journal of Business and Economics Research 2023, Volume 12, Page 34, 12(1), 34–39. https://doi.org/10.11648/20231201.15
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Gunawan Wibisono, Siti Kholifah, Tantik Sumarlin

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.






.png)