IDSME INDEX – NEW METHOD FOR EVALUATION OF SMEs DIGITALIZATION

This paper represents results of an examination of the current situation in the field of digitization of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises through presenting a new-created digitalization index (IDSME). It points out that it is possible to create a specific, purposeful index that will give a realistic view on the degree of digitalization in each individual micro, small and medium-sized company. The research relies on well-known indexes of digitization of economy and society used at the level of the world's leading organizations, the European Commission and world-renowned institutes. For the needs of this analysis, the authors have tested their digitization index on a sample of 226 companies from Serbia, Slovakia, and Russia. This analysis, using the IDSME index, was carried out based on research questions and corresponding hypotheses. The authors analyzed, in particular, the mutual relationship between the two of four dimensions of the IDSME index - the Integration of digital technologies in SMEs and the Connection to the Internet in a manner defined by the IDSME model. At the end of the paper, the authors present the conclusions reached during this research, along with the suggestions for the continuation of the research initiated in Milanka Bogavac dissertation.