Enhancing Smart Seaport Operational Efficiency for Sustainable Development: A Configuration Analysis Using DEA and fsQCA

In the context of rapid digital transformation, smart seaports have emerged as crucial entities for enhancing operational efficiency and promoting sustainable port governance. To achieve sustainable development, the integration of advanced technologies into seaport operations has become essential. However, the existing literature primarily highlights the construction achievements of smart seaports, with limited investigation into the configuration mechanisms that account for variations in efficiency. This study analyzes eight representative smart seaports in China from 2019 to 2024. Based on the Technology–Organizational–Environment (TOE) framework, six condition variables are identified. Comprehensive technical efficiency is measured using the three-stage super-efficiency Slack-Based Measure (SBM) model. Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) are then employed to identify the configuration pathways leading to either high or non-high smart seaport operational efficiency. The findings indicate that no single factor is a necessary condition for high efficiency; instead, operational efficiency results from the synergistic interplay of multiple factors. Four distinct configuration pathways that lead to high efficiency are identified. Furthermore, a significant causal asymmetry exists between efficient and inefficient configurations, highlighting the contextual complexity inherent in smart seaport operational efficiency. This study provides a configurational perspective on the operational efficiency of smart seaports in order to offer policy and management insights for sustainable seaport operations.