Digital Transformation Motivations and Pathways for Manufacturing Enterprises: A Case Study of Lenovo Group

Abstract

In the 2022 Government Work Report, the emphasis on "strengthening the core competitiveness of manufacturing" underscores the significance of robustly developing digital transformation in the manufacturing sector, which stands as a cornerstone of our national economy. The unexpected COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 adversely affected our country's manufacturing industry. However, some digitally mature enterprises displayed resilience and vitality, thereby stimulating traditional manufacturing companies to embark on digital transformation. This paper selects Lenovo Group as the subject of study for two reasons: firstly, Lenovo Group represents a traditional manufacturing enterprise, and secondly, Lenovo Group stands out as an exemplary enterprise in the field of digital transformation in 2023. This paper investigates the internal motivations of Lenovo Group for digital transformation, including suboptimal results in mergers and acquisitions integration and a lack of core technologies in the "trade, work, and technology" research. It also examines external motivations, such as robust support from national policies and intensified industry competition. The paper analyzes the pathway to Lenovo Group's digital transformation, encompassing data intelligence, intelligentization of the upstream and downstream supply chain, and the expansion of digital transformation consultancy services, with the aim of providing insights for other manufacturing companies undergoing digital transformation.