Digital Transformation and Investment Dynamics of Transport Enterprises: A Comparative Analysis of BRICS, Germany, and Ukraine
This research paper examines the nexus between digital transformation and investment activity across a diverse economic spectrum, encompassing the rapid growth of the BRICS bloc, the advanced industrial framework of Germany, and the resilient, IT-driven economy of Ukraine. As global logistics networks shift toward "Industry 4.0" standards, the traditional investment model, historically focused on physical fleet expansion, is being restructured to prioritize digital infrastructure, AI-driven logistics, and Big Data analytics. Utilizing a structural-analytical framework, this research evaluates how these digital investments enhance the financial sustainability of transport firms by optimizing asset utilization and reducing operational risks.
The findings demonstrate that digital transformation acts as a catalyst for institutional change, enabling firms to achieve higher capital productivity and long-term economic resilience. In the context of transitional markets, the shift toward digitalized investment activity serves to mitigate macroeconomic vulnerabilities by lowering logistics costs and improving regional trade integration. The study concludes that for transport enterprises, digital-led structural reforms are not merely technological upgrades but are essential strategies for ensuring fiscal stability and competitive advantage in an increasingly volatile global economy. Practical recommendations for managers and policymakers focus on balancing CAPEX between physical assets and digital innovation to ensure sustainable growth.
Copyright© 2026 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the license CC-BY 4.0., which permits any further distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Article’s history: Received 29th of October, 2025; Revised 9th of December, 2025; Accepted 12th of January, 2026; Available online: 15th of March, 2026. Published as article in the Volume XXI, Special Issue, 1(91), 2026.
Sakhno, D., Zgalat-Lоzynska, L., Rybak, I., Mukha, T., & Medyna, A. (2026). Digital Transformation and Investment Dynamics of Transport Enterprises: A Comparative Analysis of BRICS, Germany, and Ukraine. Journal of Applied Economic Sciences, Volume XXI, Special Issue, 1(91), 291 – 312. https://doi.org/10.57017/jaes.v21.si.1(91).15
Conflict of Interest Statement: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Acknowledgements/Funding: N/A
Data Availability Statement: The data supporting the findings of this study are derived from publicly available sources, including the OECD, World Bank, United Nations E-Government Survey, and the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. The datasets used and analysed during the current study are available from these official databases and from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Ethical Approval Statement: This study was conducted in accordance with accepted standards of academic research ethics. The analysis relied exclusively on publicly available secondary data from international and national statistical databases, including the OECD, World Bank, United Nations E-Government Survey, and the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. No human participants or personal data were involved; therefore, formal ethical approval was not required. All data were used in aggregated form and properly cited to ensure transparency and research integrity.
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