Page 54 - IJSA, Vol. 7, No 1, 2024

International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 7, No. 1, 2024
рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa

Introduction
In recent years, healthcare Small and Medium can contribute to SMEs’ dynamic capabilities
Enterprises (SMEs) have become an essential (Engelmann, 2024; Khurana et al., 2022; Moyo &
instrument for individuals in many countries across the Loock, 2021; Suhendi et al., 2020). According to recent
globe (Fahmi et al., 2022; Raimo et al, 2023; Salisu et scholarly literature (Drydakis, 2022; Khurana et al.,
al., 2021). Additionally, healthcare sector SMEs 2022), DCs are substantial because they enable SMEs to
improve the economy by providing services to patients, quickly detect market changes before their rivals do
eradicating poverty, and generating new job (Warner & Wäger, 2019). Extant research found that in
opportunities (Balta et al., 2021; Moretti et al., 2023). the SME sector, the development of DCs relies on
Nonetheless, several scholars (Enesi & Ibrahim, 2021; sensing, seizing and reconfiguring (Khurana et al., 2022;
Salisu et al., 2021) reported that the advent of COVID- Engelmann, 2024). From a business perspective, sensing
19 caused significant harm to various enterprises across focuses on discovering opportunities, seizing aims to
the globe. In support of this viewpoint, empirical studies utilize the opportunities, and reconfiguring improve
conducted globally reported that 60% of SMEs face the business models (Drydakis, 2022). With the help of
challenge of liquidation and about 50% have stopped SaaS, healthcare sector SMEs can sense the opportunity
operating because of the lockdown measures (Bularafa to collaborate with patients on the Internet (Suhendi et
& Adamu, 2021; Trawnih et al., 2021). al., 2020; Spanò et al., 2023). Furthermore, SaaS can
According to a plethora of research (Bularafa & Adamu, enable healthcare sector SMEs to seize the opportunity
2021; Khurana et al., 2022), while the COVID-19 of doing business on the Internet (Johnston et al., 2023).
pandemic impacted various sectors, the healthcare Moreover, SaaS can help healthcare sector SMEs to
SMEs have witnessed a severe impact due to their lack transform by reconfiguring their business models
of technological resources. Consequently, healthcare (Engelmann, 2024; Majengo & Mbise, 2022).
sector SMEs must use technology to enhance their In the epoch of the digital economy, web and Cloud-
performance and survive in the face of exogenous based services may be tools to promote innovation and
shocks (Preko & Boateng, 2020; Zimmermannova et al., enhance enterprises’ performance (Moyo & Loock,
2022). In recent years, enterprises’ use of Cloud services 2021; Suhendi et al., 2020). Empirical studies conducted
and digital products (Pypenko, 2019) has become globally (Deloitte UK’s Centre for Health Solution,
widespread (Aceto et al., 2020; Moyo & Loock, 2021; 2020; Nicolau et al., 2022; Raimo et al., 2023; Statista,
Suhendi et al., 2020). The Internet enables healthcare 2023) affirm that the use of web and Cloud-based
organisations to communicate with patients anytime and services (SaaS) can help healthcare organisations to
anywhere (Deloitte UK’s Centre for Health Solution, improve the way in which they provide healthcare
2020; Raimo et al., 2023). One of those Cloud services services to patients (Balta et al., 2021; Moretti et al.,
is Software as a Service (SaaS) (Majengo & Mbise, 2023; Spanò et al., 2023). Yet, within South Africa,
2022; Mokwena & Hlebela, 2018; Moyo & Loock, there are limited studies on the use of SaaS to improve
2021). A plethora of scholarly literature elucidates that the DCs of healthcare SMEs.
SaaS is viewed as a tool for facilitating communication The aim of the study. To develop the conceptual model
mechanisms and drawing people together through for the use of SaaS to improve the DCs of healthcare
sharing content (Alassafi, 2021; Loukis et al., 2019). SMEs.
Extant research refers to SaaS as a Cloud service model The following study model was conceptualised from by
that enables various sectors to rent information and triangulating the two theoretical models that were used
communication technology (ICT) services from a Cloud as lenses for this study. The two theoretical models
Service Provider (CSP) on the Internet (Khaki & Khan, underpinned by this study included Task-Technology
2023; Majengo & Mbise, 2022; Suhendi et al., 2020). Fit (TTF) and Fit Viability Model (FVM). The study
Within the various sectors, SaaS has taken a substantial hypotheses (H1–H10) are shown in Figure 1.
role in healthcare SMEs (Deloitte UK’s Centre for
Health Solution, 2020; Moyo & Loock, 2021; Raimo et Materials and Methods
al., 2023). Recent scholarly literature indicates that the To explain DCs and the use of SaaS by healthcare sector
use of digital technologies (DTs) such as SaaS enables SMEs, positivism was identified as the most suitable
the healthcare SMEs to improve healthcare services, paradigm for the study. A plethora of research (Creswell
reduce costs, and have access to electronic health & Creswell, 2018; Hall et al., 2022; Hasan, 2016)
records (Meri et al., 2019; Moretti et al., 2023; Moyo & pointed out that positivist studies are associated with
Loock, 2021; Raimo et al., 2023; Suhendi et al., 2020). quantitative research approach that test hypotheses. The
Additionally, several scholars (Moyo & Loock, 2021; present study utilized a survey questionnaire to collect
Raimo et al., 2023) posit that DTs such as tele-health, data. The survey questionnaire used a five Likert scale
electronic communications, web and Cloud-based method with anchors starting from 1 (strongly disagree)
services, if implemented in a targeted manner, have the to 5 (strongly agree). Healthcare SMEs that had used
potential to minimize health inequalities and improve SaaS form the population of this study. A survey
people’s lives through a substantial change in the way in conducted by Small Enterprise Development Agency
which healthcare services are provided to patients (Balta (SEDA, 2021) reported that the registered number of
et al., 2021; Moretti et al., 2023; Spanò et al., 2023). SMEs in South Africa during the first quarter of 2021
Furthermore, other scholars posit that Cloud services was projected to be close to 786,027.

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