Internet of Everything in the South African small, medium and micro-enterprises adoption model: A case of Limpopo municipalities

Abstract

Background: Small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) are crucial contributors to economies worldwide; they significantly contribute to job creation, poverty reduction and innovation. In the context of the South African landscape, SMMEs often face a high likelihood of failure.
Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to develop a model to adopt the Internet of Everything (IoE) in South African SMMEs within Limpopo municipalities.
Method: This is a quantitative study, and a quantitative questionnaire was administered to 122 participants through Google Forms. A multi-method analytical strategy integrated qualitative and quantitative findings, supported by expert validation and literature synthesis to bridge theory and practice. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, and random sampling was employed to minimise sampling error. Design Science Research served as the primary research strategy, guided by Saunders’ research onion.
Results: The results demonstrate that communication, top management support, perceived benefits, perceived ease of use, perceived trust, worth of use, frequency of use, relative advantage and business growth were all shown to exert significant influence on IoE adoption.
Conclusion: The IoE adoption in SMMEs is shaped by a combination of organisational, technological, behavioural and strategic factors.
Contribution: This study delivers a validated, theoretically sound and practically relevant IoE adoption model that advances both scholarly understanding and real-world implementation of IoE in SMMEs.