FinTech as a digital innovation in microfinance companies – systematic literature review

Purpose The main purpose of the paper is to identify the most important directions of research to date and to indicate new, emerging areas of research concerned with application of financial technology (FinTech) solutions in microfinance companies. Design/methodology/approach This paper systematically reviews the literature on FinTech in microfinance, highlighting its role in enhancing operational efficiency, customer experience and financial inclusion through technologies like blockchain and AI. Despite these advancements, significant gaps remain in understanding the key drivers of FinTech as a digital innovation, most important direction of research to date and emerging areas for future research in microfinance literature. This paper has attempted to systematise the results of the research carried out so far, based on the publications indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, using selected multidimensional statistical methods. Findings The findings identify key themes, gaps and future research directions, shedding light on the strategic implications of digital technology in microfinance. This comprehensive analysis significantly advances the understanding of how FinTech enhances microfinance management operations and objectives, contributing to both academic discourse and practical applications. Originality/value The research’s novelty lies in its focussed exploration of digital innovation within microfinance, an area that remains relatively underexplored. No similar paper was found during the literature review.