Textile and Apparel Industries

Can Data Save Small Businesses? Benefits and Challenges of Big Data Analytics Adoption among Small-sized Clothing Retailers

---

Abstract

Big data analytics (BDA) is innovating the ways businesses draw insights. Despite the benefits of BDA, small businesses are lagging behind in using BDA. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to understand the status of BDA adoption and utilization among small-sized clothing retailers. As a qualitative study, this study interviewed seven key decision-makers and analyzed the data using Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework. Regarding the technological aspect, small business owners already know and utilize the BDA, but they also face technological challenges, including a lack of knowledge of data. In terms of the organizational aspect, the availability of time and training resources within the business organization emerged as a key adoption barrier, and it is hard to adopt new analytic tools and or hire new data analysts as well. Lastly, for the environmental context, BDA has allowed small-sized retailers to adapt to rapidly changing environments, especially during the pandemic.

Keywords: Bid data, Data analytics, Small business, Techonology

How to Cite:

Kim, N. L. & Park, J., (2022) “Can Data Save Small Businesses? Benefits and Challenges of Big Data Analytics Adoption among Small-sized Clothing Retailers”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 79(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.15739