Improving Namibian SMEs through affordable big data framework

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the engine of economic growth and employment in developing countries such as Namibia. The main objective is to develop a wide-ranging framework that allows Namibian SMEs to improve their customers insightful by utilizing open big data framework. However, the cost and complexity of traditional Big Data analytics tools present a significant barrier to their adoption globally and in emerging markets. This study investigates the data practices, challenges, and potential for adopting open-source big data tools within Namibian SMEs in Ongwediva and Oshakati. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research reveals a critical gap between the high perceived value of data insights and the actual capability and ease of use of existing solutions. The finding highlights a severe resource shortage in skilled human capital, appropriate analytical tools, and organized data quality, a systemic challenge widely observed among African SMEs during digital transformation. To address this, the study proposes a comprehensive, cost-effective framework, building on the Resource-Based View (RBV), designed to leverage open-source tools like Apache Spark and cloud-based databases for improving actionable customer insights and driving sustainable business performance. Keywords: Namibian SMEs, Big Data, Open-Source Tools, Customer Insights, Digital Transformation, Resource-Based View (RBV).