A Methodology for Assessing Digital Readiness of Industrial Enterprises for Ecosystem Adaptation: Evidence from Kazakhstan’s Sustainable Industrial Transformation

This scientific article examines the issue of the effectiveness of digital transformation in Kazakhstan’s industry from the perspective of how effectively enterprises are able to convert digital resources into economically measurable results in the context of the transition to a model of sustainable industrial growth. The aim of the study is to develop a comprehensive methodology for assessing the digital readiness of industrial enterprises to implement and adapt digital ecosystems based on a synthesis of conceptual and empirical approaches. The methodology developed by the authors combines a parametric diagnostic system and stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) tools, which allows for a quantitative assessment of not only the scale but also the effectiveness of digital transformations at the regional level. The empirical part of the study includes statistical data for 2023, reflecting the dynamics of the introduction of ICT, cloud technologies, big data analytics, etc., in the industrial sector. The results of the analysis showed the steady development of digitalization with the existing pronounced spatial asymmetry. The application of SFA made it possible to identify technological “frontiers” and reveal the hidden potential for increasing the effectiveness of digital investments at the regional level. The practical value of the study lies in its applicability for assessing the digital readiness of industrial enterprises for ecosystem adaptation, diagnosing regional digital disparities, and justifying targeted government policy measures aimed at strengthening the digital maturity and sustainability of the industrial sector.