<p>Employing a machine learning measure, we find that mixed ownership reform in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) significantly advances digitalisation. This effect is primarily achieved through the pay-performance sensitivities of management and corporate risk-taking; it is particularly pronounced in competitive industries and among corporate decision-makers who did not experience the Great Chinese Famine during childhood. Our study not only explores digitalisation measures with the help of cutting-edge natural language processing techniques but also expands the literature on digitalisation motivation and the impact of mixed ownership reform on business decisions. The findings have important implications for promoting digitalisation strategies in SOEs.</p>