Abstract: Digital transformation is an inevitable choice for traditional manufacturing enterprises (TMEs) to cope with digital economy and achieve high quality development. At present, there is still a lack of systematic analysis framework on how TMEs choose the appropriate digital transformation modes according to the resource constraints in different stages. In this paper, longitudinal single case study method is adopted to deconstruct the digital transformation modes and evolution mechanism of TMEs from the perspective of integrated opportunities and resources. The main findings are as follows. In the stage of channel, production and business model digital transformation, TMEs face external, internal and cooperative resource constraints respectively. Corresponding to these constraints, there are three digital transformation modes: platform embedding, process infiltration, and value symbiosis. Under different transformation modes, TMEs adopt the platform attachment strategy, process inversion strategy and digital partner synergy strategy successively, and choose the external, internal and symbiotic integration of opportunities and resources. Based on the trigger thresholds of different modes, the gradual transformation path of TMEs from platform embedding to process infiltration, and then to value symbiosis is revealed. This study elucidates the mechanisms of TMEs’ digital transformation modes and their evolution from a strategic perspective, providing insights and guidance for TMEs to select their digital transformation modes and design their transformation pathways.

Key words: traditional manufacturing enterprises, digital transformation, transformation modes, transformation path, resource constraint