Global digital technology is undergoing a profound transition from information technology (IT) to digital technology (DT). As cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things become increasingly mature, IT has gradually acquired capabilities in data mining, intelligent analysis, and autonomous decision-making, transforming from passive process tools into proactive value creation engines. The digitalization of global hidden champions exhibits distinct regional characteristics: Germany focuses on technological deepening and process reengineering with Industry 4.0 at its core; the United States leverages software and AI to build open ecosystems, dominating value chains through open source and standard setting; Japan integrates the Industrial Internet with lean production as its foundation to achieve process standardization; China achieves rapid application implementation under policy empowerment, demonstrating unique advantages of high R&D investment intensity and agile application transformation, effectively driving industrial transformation and upgrading through technology integration and scenario innovation. Digital technology is propelling hidden champions to evolve from “irreplaceable technological nodes” to “global ecosystem leaders.” The key to future competition lies in transitioning from “single-point technological leadership” to “ecosystem leadership.” Firms must deepen fundamental technology breakthroughs and ecosystem collaboration capabilities while maintaining innovation vitality, building diverse innovation teams and open ecosystems to forge sustainable competitive advantages in the digital wave.