Michael Ntiriakwa "A Systematic Review of the Impact of Digital Platforms on Sustainable Development

Topic: Sustainability in the Digital Age: A Systematic Review of the Impact of Digital Platforms on Sustainable Development

Digital platforms have emerged as powerful tools for enabling collaboration, innovation, and resource efficiency. Yet they also risk exacerbating inequality, undermining privacy, and contributing to environmental degradation. While research is expanding, it remains unclear how digital platform features—such as governance, architecture, and value creation—shape sustainable development outcomes. We analyze 102 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2024 and develop an integrated framework that maps how digital platform features and contextual conditions combine to influence environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Our findings reveal that sustainable development outcomes depend on how digital platform features combine, rather than operate in isolation. We identify key research gaps and offer a roadmap to guide scholars and policymakers in designing platform ecosystems aligned with sustainable development goals.

Michael Ntiriakwa started his PhD at the Kühne Logistics University on the 1st of September 2022—he is a researcher with a background in sustainability and environmental management. As a PhD candidate at Kühne Logistics University, he is at the forefront of exploring the sustainability impact of digital platforms.