Achieve sustainable operation of agricultural enterprises: improving agribusiness performance through digital transformation

Introduction Digital transformation (DT) refers to the process of leveraging digital technologies to drive innovation in business models, thereby enabling enterprises to create greater value and deliver innovative solutions for efficient agricultural production. Methods Using data from 211 listed agricultural companies in China from 2009 to 2022, this study investigates the impact and pathways through which DT influences financial performance (FP), employing a range of methodologies. To enhance text mining accuracy, the research incorporates natural language processing (NLP) and large language models (LLM). Results The findings indicate that DT within agricultural enterprises’ production, purchasing, and sales departments significantly enhances FP. To address potential endogeneity concerns, robustness checks were conducted using propensity score matching (PSM), the Heckman two-stage model, and the two-stage least squares (2SLS) method. Mechanism analysis reveals that DT improves FP through three primary channels: reducing sales expenses, easing cost stickiness, and promoting breakthrough innovation. However, the positive effects of DT exhibit heterogeneity. These effects are more pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises, larger firms, and enterprises located in major grain-producing regions. Conclusion This study validates the necessity for enterprises to use digital technology to improve financial performance in the digital age. By expanding the measurement methods for DT, the research provides valuable insights for enterprises seeking to leverage digital tools to optimize agricultural production efficiency.