Abstract:

Digitalization is a hot topic nowadays, having been on an accelerated trend since the beginning of the pandemic. If between 1991 and 2015, there were published annually between 3 and 7 articles on the topic of digitalization of management processes, after 2015, the number of scientific papers in the field doubled annually, reaching 398 papers published in 2020, with the peak being reached in 2022, with 1064 elaborated research pieces. Additionally, according to international reports, the volume of investments in digitalization doubled during the period 2017 - 2022, and by 2026, the increase will be 350% compared to 2017. This situation is motivated by the fact that, within companies, digitalization is seen as a factor contributing to increased efficiency. However, it also raises challenges related to investments in technology, efficient exploitation, and adaptation to the specific needs of companies. The main objective of this study is to provide information on the evolution of research on digitalization in management. The method used in identifying these is bibliometric analysis, carried out with the help of Bibliometrix and VOSviewer applications. For the realization of the study, 3,608 articles were indexed in Web of Science, of type articles, early articles, and review articles. The analysis contains the evolution over time of the articles, the most cited authors and their most important articles, relevant scientific literature, the most prolific publishers, the countries with the most significant interest in the field, and the analysis of keywords. Reviewing the relevant literature, the main topics addressed in the published papers, current topics of interest, and research trends in the field are determined. The study is helpful to both researchers and practitioners, its results constituting a good starting point for future investigations while also offering the possibility of identifying the most practical methods used in digitalizing management processes.