Leveraging technology-driven applications to promote sustainability in the shipping industry: The impact of digitalization on corporate social responsibility

The use of technology-driven applications has become widespread in the development and distribution of products and services. In our study, we aim to investigate the role of digitalization in establishing business sustainability within the shipping industry, using a sample of Chinese listed firms. Specifically, we examine how digitalization impacts corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance. Our findings indicate that both internal and external digitalization have a positive association with CSR performance. This study is the first to explore the impact of both types of digitalization on CSR performance, and we also identify ownership structure as a positive moderator of this relationship. Our study contributes to the literature on digitalization, CSR, and stakeholders, providing practical insights for policymakers in the shipping industry. By emphasizing the positive correlation between digitalization and CSR performance, we underscore the significance of adopting digital technologies to promote sustainability and responsible business practices. Our findings also demonstrate the necessity for firms to consider ownership structure when developing and implementing digitalization strategies to enhance CSR performance.