Análisis del Uso de la Economía Digital en el Sector Ferretero en Guayaquil

The digital revolution has reconfigured how organizations operate and relate to their environment. This “digital economy” (DE) is based on digitization of processes, networking, and data analysis. Although some sectors have quickly adopted DE, others are still in transition. The hardware sector, which is essential in construction and the home, is also evolving towards digital. Globally, the online hardware trade is growing, driven by improvements in e-commerce and new consumer trends. DE transforms economic activities and systems through advanced technologies. It is intended to analyze the use of the digital economy in the hardware sector in the city of Guayaquil. A quantitative, descriptive approach is used, with a non-experimental and cross-sectional design, observing reality without altering it. Guayaquil hardware stores are advancing in their digitization process, but they have needed to improve in e-commerce and cybersecurity. Despite the digital potential, physical interaction is preferred. Digital transformation presents opportunities and challenges, such as balancing humanity with technology. Surveys show that consumers value digital access, especially high-speed internet and online shopping, but are concerned about the security of their data. Most have positive experiences shopping online, though some still resist, possibly due to security concerns or a preference for physical stores.