Artificial Intelligence as a Strategic Resource in Business: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as an important strategic resource in the contemporary business environment, influencing organizational competitiveness, innovation, and decision-making across multiple industries. This systematic literature review examines how the existing literature positions AI in the development of business strategies across the manufacturing, financial, retail, e-commerce, education, agriculture, and technology sectors. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, studies published between 2015 and 2025 were identified through Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, screened using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and evaluated based on publication year, document type, language, research themes, empirical contribution, theoretical value, and journal impact factor. Of the records retrieved, 20 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final review. The findings indicate that most studies relied on secondary data sources, including patent databases, bibliometric records, company datasets, and published literature, whereas relatively few employed primary data collected through surveys, interviews, or organizational respondents. The review also found that much of the literature adopts a global or non-region-specific perspective, with limited empirical evidence from specific regional contexts. Across the reviewed studies, machine learning, AI-based computational modeling, text mining, natural language processing, and bibliometric analysis were the most frequently used methodological approaches. The literature also consistently identifies implementation challenges, ethical considerations, governance issues, and organizational readiness as critical factors influencing AI adoption. Overall, the reviewed literature positions AI as a strategic resource that can enhance business performance and competitiveness when supported by appropriate governance, organizational capabilities, and context-specific implementation.