Exploring Digital Transformation Opportunities of Data Spaces

Data spaces have gained increasing attention due to the possibility of integrating heterogeneous data sources, which is particularly important for furthering digital transformation since sharing data is among its main drivers. Initiatives such as International Data Spaces (IDS) and GAIA-X contribute to the establishment of trustworthy data infrastructures, thereby strengthening data sovereignty. Previous research, however, has predominantly focused on technical aspects, while the opportunities for digital transformation arising from data spaces remain largely unexplored in information systems research. To address this gap, we applied a systematic mapping approach to 54 studies and identified five digital transformation opportunities: democratization, federalization, justification, servitization and sovereignization. Interestingly, data spaces as novel digital platforms are characterized by the decentralized autonomy of data owners. Our findings not only enrich the current body of knowledge but also support organizations in making informed decisions for cross-organizational data sharing projects regarding the adoption of data spaces.