Guest editorial: Business process management in the digital transformation era: new frontiers, challenges and opportunities

摘要

Digital transformation is no longer a passing managerial trend – it is now recognized as a core imperative for organizations striving to maintain relevance and competitiveness in increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) environments. Fueled by the rapid advancement and convergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotic process automation (RPA), blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing and big data analytics, digital transformation is not merely about technology deployment but about fundamentally rethinking how organizations operate, innovate and deliver value. As recent studies have emphasized (e.g. Bresciani et al., 2021; Huarng et al., 2021; Bargoni et al., 2024; Butt et al., 2024; Joel et al., 2024; Lykourentzou et al., 2025), digital transformation involves not only technical reengineering but also the strategic renewal of business models, organizational culture and process architectures.In this context, Business Process Management (BPM) is undergoing a major evolution. Historically grounded in principles of standardization, efficiency, and control, BPM now faces the challenge of embracing flexibility, agility and innovation. Scholars, such as Bresciani et al. (2023), Farace and Tarabella (2024), Liu et al. (2024) and Hafeez et al. (2025), have argued that traditional BPM models must be extended and enriched to account for the dynamic capabilities required to navigate in digital environments. This includes the ability to co-evolve with emerging technologies, orchestrate complex stakeholder ecosystems and enable real-time, data-driven decision-making across distributed and automated processes.Recognizing this shift, the special issue “Business Process Management in the Digital Transformation Era” was conceived to explore how BPM as a field of research is responding to – and helping to shape – the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation. The Call for Papers invited contributions that critically examine the intersection of BPM and digital innovation, with the aim of advancing theoretical, empirical and methodological understanding.The response to the Call for Papers was enthusiastic and global. Submissions came from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds, geographic regions and methodological perspectives. After a rigorous peer-review process (144 manuscripts have been submitted), 12 papers were selected that reflect the richness, diversity and theoretical depth of current BPM research in the digital age. These papers are not only academically sound but also provide valuable insights for practitioners grappling with the strategic and operational implications of digital transformation.The twelve selected papers for this special issue reflect the diversity and richness of current research at the intersection of BPM and digital transformation. While the studies vary in scope, method and empirical setting, four overarching thematic clusters emerge: (1) new frameworks and measurement tools to guide digital transformation; (2) organizational and cognitive implications of artificial intelligence adoption; (3) sector-specific and applied uses of digital technologies and (4) the link between digital innovation, BPM and sustainable business practices.The remainder of this editorial is structured around these four themes, through which we connect and synthesize the key findings of the accepted articles, drawing attention to their implications for BPM theory and practice in the digital era.First, it is important to emphasize the need to develop new frameworks and measurement tools to guide digital transformation in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. As organizations embrace peer-to-peer models, sustainable strategies and new digital business logics, the need arises to systematically map and assess these shifts. Contributions in this area introduced dynamic models of change, explored how business process maturity influences digital success and undersco