PERAN KAPABILITAS DIGITAL DALAM MENINGKATKAN KINERJA KREATIF DAN BISNIS: BUKTI DARI CREATIVEPRENEURS INDONESIA

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to explore how digital capability contributes to creative performance and business performance among Indonesian creativepreneurs. Specifically, the study examines how digital capability enables creative exploration, experimentation, and market responsiveness, and how creative performance functions as a key mechanism in translating digital resources into business outcomes.

Research Methodology: This study employs an exploratory qualitative approach using a multiple case study design. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with creativepreneurs operating in various creative economy sectors, including fashion, digital content, graphic design, and design-based businesses. Supporting data were obtained from a Google Form survey and observations of digital platforms such as social media and marketplaces. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis through open coding, axial coding, and selective coding to identify the process-based relationship between digital capability, creative performance, and business performance.

Results: The findings show that digital capability is not merely a technical resource but also a strategic enabler of creativity. Creativepreneurs use digital tools to accelerate idea generation, improve content creation, conduct experimentation, respond to market trends, and engage customers more effectively. The study also reveals that creative performance acts as a central mechanism linking digital capability to business performance. Improved creativity contributes to stronger customer engagement, product innovation, brand differentiation, market expansion, and revenue growth.

Limitations: This study is limited by its qualitative design and relatively small number of informants, which means the findings should be interpreted contextually and not generalized broadly. Future studies may test the proposed mechanism quantitatively using a larger sample and examine additional factors such as community support, cultural identity, entrepreneurial orientation, or digital ecosystem readiness.

Contribution: This study contributes to the literature on digital capability and creativepreneurship by shifting the dominant view of digital capability from a direct driver of business performance to an enabling mechanism that strengthens creative performance. The study also offers practical insights for creativepreneurs and policymakers by emphasizing that digital transformation programs should not only focus on technology adoption but also on developing creative capacity and value creation capabilities.