Investigating the critical drivers of Fintech adoption to promote business sustainability of SMEs

PurposeUnder the integrated perspective of the Net Valence Framework (NVF) and Theory of Reasoned action (TRA), this research intends to examine the impact of drivers (perceived risks (PRs) and benefits) on FinTech adoption (FA) as well as on business sustainability (BS) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Oman. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of drivers (perceived risks and benefits) on FinTech adoption (FA) and business sustainability (BS) of SMEs in Oman , under the integrated perspective of the Net Valence Framework (NVF) and Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA).Design/methodology/approachPrimary data was collected from 402 owners and managers of SMEs in Muscat, Oman using a purposive sampling method. Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares was mainly applied to assess the PRs and perceived benefits (PBs) determining both FA and BS of SMEs.FindingsThe results indicate that PBs (economic, convenience, transaction efficiency) positively impact FA, while PRs (financial, legal, security, operational) act as deterrents toward FA. Both the benefits and risks significantly influence BS. FA itself fosters sustainability, and PBs directly enhance it through ease of use, cost reduction and knowledge acquisition. Conversely, PRs hinder sustainability due to concerns about skills gaps, security, social inclusion and environmental considerations.Practical implicationsThe research forms a model capturing the pros and cons of FA of SMEs to provide stakeholders with ideas that would promote sustainability and drive fintech-based growth and innovation. For instance, by improving financial management efficiency, increasing market access and enhancing competitiveness, SMEs can adopt fintech solutions to support sustainable growth and achieve Sustainable Development Goals across the region's economy.Originality/valueThe current research, through the lens of the NVF as well as TRA, explores the contribution of FA determined by PRs and benefits toward BS of SMEs in the context of Oman.