Driving Digital Transformation: Investigating the Key Determinants of Smart Technology Adoption in Italian Municipalities

In recent years, municipalities have increasingly played a key role in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with digital transformation serving as a critical tool in this process. This study examines the digitalization levels of Italian municipalities, focusing on the determinants influencing their adoption of digital technologies. To measure digitalization, a comprehensive questionnaire was administered to Italian municipalities. This study then explores the influence of Contextual demographic characteristics on municipal digitalization efforts. Grounded in contingency theory, the findings reveal that municipalities with younger and more educated populations exhibit a greater propensity to adopt smart technologies.