The implementation of e-learning considers the social and cultural environments, together with the specific preferences of students and teachers. Through an analysis of 110 Scopus publications on e-learning adoption, this study identifies a changing pattern in document production over time. With 19 publications, Malaysia ranks as the leading contributor, followed by India, Indonesia, and the UK. The distribution of e-learning research is representative of its global scope, as it covers several countries through a single or two publications. The present investigation provides valuable insights into the affiliations of notable authors. The Ghanaian writers “Ansong, E.” and “Boateng, R.” received the highest number of citations (96) and publications (3 each), representing a citation-to-publication ratio of 32. Authors “Alamsyah, D.P.” and “Othman, N.A.” The citation effect is moderate, as indicated by C/P values of 2.5, and the papers originate from Indonesia and Malaysia. This research provides significant new insights into publication patterns, contributions from different regions, and the impact of authors on the adoption of e-learning. Using this data, scholars and organisations can assess the influence of individual writers and their networks of collaboration. Highly cited publications in the field of e-learning adoption cover a wide range of topics, making them an essential resource for scholars and educators seeking to learn more about the complexities of this intricate process. The adoption of e-learning takes into account social and cultural settings, as well as individual student and teacher preferences. An analysis of 110 Scopus papers on e-learning adoption reveals a changing pattern in document production over time. In terms of publications, Malaysia is first with 19 publications, followed by India, Indonesia, and the UK. This distribution exemplifies the worldwide nature of e-learning research, as it covers several countries in a few papers. This paper provides an analysis of notable authors and their associations. “Ansong, E.” and “Boateng, R.”, both Ghanaian authors, had the largest number of citations (96) and publications (3 each), resulting in a C/P ratio of 32.