Dynamic Assessment of Digital Maturity in Industrial SMEs: An Adaptive AHP-Based DMM with Customizable Weighting and Multidimensional Classification (DAMA-AHP)

The ongoing digitalization of industrial companies requires a structured, strategic in-tegration of digital concepts into business processes. Digital transformation (DT) re-quires clearly defined roadmaps that align digital technologies with business objec-tives. Although there are many digital maturity models (DMMs), most are indus-try-specific and do not address the unique characteristics of individual companies. Even SME-focused models often struggle to close the gap between current and target maturity levels, hindering effective DT implementation. This study examines the ex-isting academic and professional literature on DMMs for SMEs and assesses digital readiness in an industrial context. From these findings, the Dynamic Adaptive Ma-turity Assessment Model (DAMA-AHP) was developed. It comprises 66 DT elements in six dimensions: People and Expertise, Operability, Organization, Products and Pro-duction Processes, Strategy and Technology. DAMA-AHP incorporates the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), which has been enhanced with customizable weighting at both the dimension and element levels. This enables precise alignment with the com-pany's priorities and the definition of customized target maturity levels that form the basis for a tailored transformation roadmap. Validation through a case study con-firmed the practical value of DAMA-AHP in measuring digital maturity and defining strategic DT priorities. It provides a comprehensive, adaptable and dynamic frame-work that promotes continuous improvement and sustainable competitiveness of SMEs in the evolving digital economy.