The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures imposed to contain the infections threatened several business models of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). Industries with a high degree of direct client contact were faced with the challenge of fundamentally rethinking their business practices. Many companies struggled to adapt and quite a few faced an existential crisis. In some cases, attempts were made to overcome the challenges that arose by integrating digital innovations (DI). Identifying and implementing DI that support a business model can be vital for SMEs. Not overstretching already scarce resources can become a further challenge. In this context, this study addresses how the pandemic has impacted the identification, selection and adoption of digital innovations. 27 semi-structured interviews with SME executives from different industries were analyzed and structured according to the innovation decision-making process. The results show essential measures in the innovation process when introducing various DI in SME. This is supplemented by recommended actions for the process of introducing DI in SME. Overall, this study contributes to the existing literature on the adoption of DI in SME by illustrating a perspective of change under sudden and large external pressures.