When traditional shopping becomes challenging, people are inclined to shop online. Recent limitations like government-imposed quarantines, social distancing, and fear of viruses have provided opportunities for the e-commerce business to thrive. Consumers turned to digital options to bypass physical shopping environments, which will undoubtedly influence long-term buyer behavior. Advancing SMEs Toward E-Commerce Policies for Sustainability provides a fresh perspective on how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can leverage e-commerce for sustainability and considers the best practices and challenges of adoption. Covering topics such as data science, digital ethics, and blockchain, this reference work is ideal for business owners, managers, policymakers, researchers, scholars, academicians, educators, and students.

"This book will provide a fresh perspective on how small- and medium-sized enterprises can leverage e-commerce for sustainability considering how consumers have increasingly turned to digital options to bypass physical shopping environments"--

Various sectors of emerging markets face unique challenges, largely related to the gap between small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) research and practice. The relationship between SMEs and agriculture, tourism, and other key industries requires a close examination to understand the intricacies of their interplay. An emphasis on the need to bridge this gap, and strategies for scaling up and embedding new sustainability and technology trends into SME strategies is necessary for a healthy growth strategy within emerging markets. Drivers of SME Growth and Sustainability in Emerging Markets is a comprehensive book that delves into the intricate dynamics of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in developing economies. With a focus on a keen awareness of the challenges faced by SMEs, this book offers valuable insights for marketers, entrepreneurs, practitioners, and policy makers seeking to unlock the potential of these vital economic contributors. With a focus on entrepreneurship capacity building and government schemes designed to support SMEs, this book equips readers with the knowledge and tools to create an enabling environment for sustainable SME growth. From identifying bottlenecks and challenges to presenting innovative business models and sustainable practices, this book serves as a vital resource for business students, management faculty, and professionals seeking to navigate the complexities of SMEs in emerging markets.

Led by social networks and user-generated content, the number of posts available in the market is impossible to be rationally processed by customers. The micro-segmentation goes along with this trend, and there are multiple categories of the same core product available for the consumers in the market. What is the role of the brands in this context? In a way, they serve as a mental shortcut that consumers use to help “rationalize” decisions that would be impossible to make by analyzing all the options available. Brands also try to find more distinctive signals to stand out and differentiate from others. Signals like more green, ecologic, or inclusive brands are now part of the claims of the brands. Do they really help consumers to make better decisions? Or are they ignored by the customers as they become the rule instead of the exception? The Role of Brands in an Era of Over-Information provides knowledge to better understand the digital branding process and its implications in choosing products, services, or organizations. The book also contributes to the development and consolidation of recent concepts linked with branding and over-information, providing practical cases where these concepts show their relevance. Covering key topics such as marketing, new media, sustainability, and internet branding, this premier reference source is ideal for marketers, influencers, business owners, policymakers, managers, industry professionals, researchers, academicians, scholars, practitioners, instructors, and students.

A new challenge has become present in the field of generative artificial intelligence (AI). The fundamental nature of education, a vital element for advancing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), now grapples with the transformative impact of AI technologies. As we stand at this intersection of progress and pedagogy, critical questions surface about the future roles of educators and the integrity of assessment processes. AI’s rapid progression prompts an exploration of the competencies our education systems must cultivate in a world where human and machine intelligence are becoming increasingly interconnected. Against this backdrop of transformative uncertainty, Integrating Generative AI in Education to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals addresses profound challenges and offers promising solutions at the crossroads of AI and education. This book assembles distinguished academics, researchers, and practitioners, forming a collective voice on the intersection of Generative AI and education. The three-part structure dissects the technical aspects of AI-powered innovations in educational design, explores multidisciplinary applications enhancing educational content, and highlights AI-driven solutions to address equality and inclusion concerns within educational systems. The book also underscores the importance of ethical considerations of generative AI to ensure a future where technology serves the broader goals of sustainability and equitable education.

Digital marketing emerged as a natural response by companies and vendors to leverage and benefit from the significant consumer concentration on digital channels. This proliferation of IT applications and the enormous presence of customers in digital channels generate a large number of products and customer data. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are game-changing techniques in digital marketing to analyze this data. This analysis helps marketers to personalize the sales tools toward individuals, optimize their operations, and minimize expenditure. Contemporary Approaches of Digital Marketing and the Role of Machine Intelligence demonstrates relevant theories of digital marketing along with tools, techniques, methods, and strategies. It also identifies the research gaps for effective digital marketing tools, techniques, and methods and builds a bridge between digital marketing strategies and business plans for organizations. Covering topics such as digital marketing, metaverse, and visitor experience, this premier reference source is an essential resource for business leaders and managers, marketers, IT managers, data analysts, social media analysts, students and educators of higher education, researchers, and academicians.

In today's highly competitive and rapidly evolving global landscape, the quest for efficiency has become a crucial factor in determining the success of organizations across various industries. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) Methods for Maximizing Efficiency is a comprehensive guide that delves into the powerful mathematical tool of DEA, is designed to assess the relative efficiency of decision-making units (DMUs), and provides valuable insights for performance improvement. This book presents a systematic overview of DEA models and techniques, from fundamental concepts to advanced methods, showcasing their practical applications through real-world examples and case studies. Catering to a broad audience, this book is designed for students, researchers, consultants, decision-makers, and enthusiasts in the field of efficiency analysis and performance measurement. Consultants and practitioners will gain practical insights for applying DEA in various contexts, and decision-makers will be equipped to make informed decisions for maximizing efficiency. Additionally, individuals with a general interest in data analysis and performance measurement will find this book accessible and informative. This book covers a wide range of topics, including mathematical foundations of DEA, DEA models and variations, DEA efficiency and productivity measures, DEA applications in various industries such as healthcare, finance, supply chain management, environmental management, education management, and public sector management.

As the world continues to grapple with issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), organizations face numerous challenges in determining the most effective digital marketing strategies to promote DEI and contribute to achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). These challenges can include determining the main objectives, deciding on the ideal means to communicate with the target market, and measuring the impact of the strategies implemented. Effective Digital Marketing for Improving Society Behavior Toward DEI and SDGs provides a comprehensive solution to these challenges. Edited by Inês Pereira, Paulo Alexandre, and José Duarte Santos, this book offers readers a wide range of knowledge areas, including corporate social responsibility, marginalized communities, and sustainability index, providing the necessary skills to understand and apply different digital marketing and communication strategies. Aimed at a diverse audience, including management and marketing academics, digital marketing managers and consultants, social marketers, NPOs managers, and brand communication managers, this book serves as an essential guide for anyone seeking to develop effective digital marketing and communication strategies that promote DEI and contribute to achieving SDGs. By providing practical guidance on non-profit marketing, storytelling for DEI, and sustainability, the book helps organizations measure their impact, contributing to improved society behavior towards DEI and SDGs.

Smart manufacturing environments are revolutionizing the industrial sector by integrating advanced technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics, to achieve higher levels of efficiency, productivity, and safety. However, the increasing complexity and interconnectedness of these systems also introduce new security challenges that must be addressed to ensure the safety of human workers and the integrity of manufacturing processes. Key topics include risk assessment methodologies, secure communication protocols, and the development of standard specifications to guide the design and implementation of HCPS. Recent research highlights the importance of adopting a multi-layered approach to security, encompassing physical, network, and application layers. Furthermore, the integration of AI and machine learning techniques enables real-time monitoring and analysis of system vulnerabilities, as well as the development of adaptive security measures. Artificial Intelligence Solutions for Cyber-Physical Systems discusses such best practices and frameworks as NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO/IEC 27001, and IEC 62443 of advanced technologies. It presents strategies and methods to mitigate risks and enhance security, including cybersecurity frameworks, secure communication protocols, and access control measures. The book also focuses on the design, implementation, and management of secure HCPS in smart manufacturing environments. It covers a wide range of topics, including risk assessment, security architecture, data privacy, and standard specifications, for HCPS. The book highlights the importance of securing communication protocols, the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in threat detection and mitigation, and the need for robust cybersecurity frameworks in the context of smart manufacturing.