With the rapid development and widespread application of new-generation digital technologies, the digital economy is playing an increasingly important role in driving China’s high-quality economic development. As economic growth drivers undergo transformation, studying how to promote the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy (digital-real economy integration) holds significant strategic importance. In general, the digital-real economy integration of China has made impressive advancements, becoming an irreversible trend. Nonetheless, there persist challenges that necessitate attention, such as the imperative to strengthen underlying technology support and improve the quality of integration. By integrating specific application scenarios of digital technology with traditional enterprise theory, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of how the digital economy empowers innovation and development in traditional enterprises, thereby facilitating the exploration of practical paths for the deep digital-real economy integration. A thorough examination of the main forms and connotations of this deep integration allows us to analyze specific paths across three key dimensions: product layer, enterprise layer, and industry layer. By adopting this approach, a research framework that promotes the deep digital-real economy integration can be established.