The digital age and its impact on university entrepreneurships of young tungurahuans

Abstract

Digital transformation revolutionized the way university youth ventures operated by facilitating process optimization and expanding market reach. However, in Tungurahua Province, its implementation faced significant challenges due to limited training, scarce resources, and unclear technology adoption strategies. The objective of this research was to analyze the impact of digitalization on university student ventures, and its relationship with business growth, competitiveness, and sustainability. A quantitative approach was applied, with a non-experimental and correlational design. A survey was conducted with 360 student entrepreneurs from universities in Tungurahua, using a structured questionnaire based on a five-level Likert scale. Variables such as the adoption of digital tools, the use of e-commerce platforms, process automation, and the impact of Big Data on business decision-making were analyzed. The results showed that, although many entrepreneurs had adopted digital technologies, several limitations hindered effective implementation. E-commerce and automation exhibited moderate levels of adoption, while the use of Big Data remained low. It was concluded that digital transformation was a gradual process requiring access to technology, training programs, and financial strategies. The study recommended the implementation of public policies to support digitalization and the design of strategies tailored to the local context, allowing young entrepreneurs to take advantage of digital opportunities and improve their long-term competitiveness.

Keywords: Competitiveness, Sustainability, Decision Making, Big Data, Training, Public Policies.