Exploring Autonomous Vehicle Adoption in Logistics Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Framework for Emerging Economies

Autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies are increasingly viewed as strategic enablers of digital transformation in logistics, yet existing adoption frameworks only partially explain organisational readiness among logistics small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies. This study develops the Process–Organisation–Environment–Technology (POET) framework as an integrated conceptual explanation of AV adoption readiness in logistics SMEs. Using a conceptual theory-building approach, the study synthesises the literature on technology adoption, organisational readiness, socio-technical systems, digital transformation, logistics SME operations, and AV adoption, with contextual grounding drawn from the South African logistics SME setting. The POET framework conceptualises AV adoption readiness as a multidimensional organisational capability emerging from the alignment of process integration, organisational readiness, environmental readiness, and technological maturity. The study contributes to organisational technology adoption theory by positioning process capability as an explicit analytical dimension alongside organisational, environmental, and technological readiness, offering a context-sensitive framework for understanding AV adoption readiness in infrastructure-constrained logistics SMEs. The framework provides a theoretical foundation for future empirical operationalisation and supports managers and policymakers in identifying capability, process, technological, and environmental conditions that may enable sustainable digital transformation.