Mapping the evolution of cloud computing, AI, and business process performance in SMEs: a bibliometric analysis

The rapid adoption of Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed business processes in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, existing studies remain fragmented, focusing either on technological adoption or firm performance, with limited integrative mapping of the intellectual structure connecting Cloud Computing, AI, and SME business process performance. Addressing this gap, the present study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to systematically examine the evolution, thematic structure, and collaborative patterns within this research domain. A dataset of 602 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025 was extracted from Scopus and Web of Science. Using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny, the study analyzes publication trends, citation structures, co-authorship networks, country collaborations, and keyword co-occurrence to identify influential contributors, leading journals, and emerging research themes. The findings reveal a substantial increase in scholarly output, peaking in 2024, indicating growing academic attention to digital transformation in SMEs. The United Kingdom leads in research productivity, while journals such as the Journal of Business Research and the International Small Business Journal serve as major publication outlets. Thematic clusters highlight digital transformation, innovation capability, operational efficiency, and performance optimization as dominant research streams. This study provides the first integrated bibliometric mapping of this domain and offers strategic directions for future research and policy development.