Digital technologies such as big data drive operational excellence, yet their role in enhancing viable, sustainable and digital supply chain performance (VSDSCP) through supply chain connectivity (SCC) and innovation remains underexplored. Grounded in dynamic capability theory (DCT), this study aims to investigate the BDU–VSDSCP relationship via SCC and innovation mediation, employing a hybrid structural equation modeling (SEM)–fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) approach.
We surveyed managers of Chinese small and medium-sized textile enterprise (SMEs) to test the proposed hypotheses using SEM and identified configurations of Big Data Use (BDU) through fsQCA.
The SEM findings suggest that BDU directly and indirectly enhances VSDSCP, with SCC and innovation capabilities mediating the nexus between BDU and VSDSCP. fsQCA results uncover six distinct configurations of factors that collectively predict higher levels of VSDSCP.
This research supports SME managers in enhancing connectivity and co-creating with suppliers and customers by leveraging insights from BDU to achieve optimal VSDSCP. Furthermore, the SEM–fsQCA findings indicate that success is not driven by a single factor but rather by tailored combinations of capabilities suited to the specific firm context.
Improved VSDSCP through BDU and innovation fosters business growth, generating new employment opportunities while encouraging upskilling in digital literacy.
We contribute to digital SC and big data literature by employing a hybrid SEM-fsQCA to investigate how BDU augments VSDSCP. We extend DCT by focusing on capability orchestration, uncovering generalizable and context-specific pathways to performance.
