Estrategias para impulsar el crecimiento de las microempresas en el Cantón Playas y su transición hacia pequeñas empresas

Abstract

This research analyzes the challenges of business growth in the General Villamil-Playas Canton, where micro-enterprises in the commercial sector, despite being the local economic engine, suffer from structural stagnation that prevents them from transitioning into competitive small businesses. Faced with a market distorted by the power of large distribution chains, the main objective is to analyze effective strategies that promote the sustainable growth of microenterprises in Playas. The methodology used followed a mixed approach, descriptive scope, and non-experimental design, applying structured surveys to a finite sample of 304 citizens and conducting interviews with local experts. The primary results reveal deficient management characterized by a lack of inventory traceability and intuition-based decision-making process, leading to low productivity and vulnerability to competition. Furthermore, a gap in the digital maturity of these establishments was observed, limiting their ability to adapt to an environment where consumers demand more agile processes and digital interaction channels. It is concluded that the evolution of these organizations depends on overcoming empiricism through operational professionalization and the adoption of innovative practices focused on service improvement. Consequently, the study proposes a management model that integrates operational efficiency and commercial associativity, allowing local businesses to capitalize on their proximity advantage and ensure their long-term permanence in the market.