Emerging Themes and Future Pathways in Sustainable Digital Transformation: A Scopus-Based Bibliometric Synthesis Study

Sustainable Digital Transformation (SDT) drives organizational and societal progress by integrating digital technologies with environmental, social, and economic sustainability goals. This study aims to systematically analyze the current state and future trends of research in the field of SDT, identify core issues, and explore future directions. Based on 243 articles from the Scopus database between 2018 and 2024, we employed bibliometric methods, utilizing Bibliometrix R for statistical analysis and VOSviewer to construct a knowledge network. We analyzed the field's dynamics across dimensions such as temporal distribution, keyword co-occurrence, collaboration networks, and thematic evolution. The findings indicate that circular economy, smart cities, and energy efficiency are current hot topics, reflecting the role of technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) in promoting systemic sustainability. Additionally, research focus is shifting from technical aspects to social impacts, including governance models, stakeholder participation, and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Future research should address interdisciplinary issues such as digital equity and data ethics. This study provides scholars with a systematic research framework and offers practical guidance for policymakers to balance technological innovation with sustainable development.