The interplay of digital technologies and sustainability: a systematic review and thematic insights for future research directions

Integrating digital technologies into production processes is crucial for achieving sustainability objectives. Firms face growing sustainability and resource challenges while balancing productivity and environmental goals. Digital technologies improve data visibility and resource efficiency. However, evidence of their contributions to sustainable production remains fragmented. Therefore, this review synthesizes current knowledge and identifies future research directions. This study systematically reviewed 49 Scopus-indexed articles and analyzed them using NVivo. Findings reveal growing research interest in IoT, Big Data Analytics, and cloud computing for improving visibility and resource efficiency. Big Data Analytics and IoT enable real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and data-driven production. Blockchain enhances traceability and ethical sourcing. The findings further indicate that successful implementation requires organizational and cultural transformation. Digital strategies offer long-term sustainability benefits. However, high implementation costs and technological complexity remain significant barriers. Future research should examine sector-specific sustainability impacts and implementation pathways.