E-grocery supply chain management enabled by mobile tools

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study mobile services for supply chain management (SCM) in the electronic grocery (e-grocery) sector. The authors investigate their diffusion and formulate policies in order to stimulate the adoption. Design/methodology/approach A System Dynamics model is proposed for a short fresh food supply chain (SC). The model predicts how product traceability, mobile payment, and time-based delivery management functionalities contribute to the adoption of a SCM mobile application. Findings The three services drive the diffusion of the application. A high level of real time information brings decreased inventory levels and more frequent order placing, leading to an increased number of logistics transactions managed by the mobile application and growth in the associated revenue for the service provider company. Research limitations/implications The proposed study fosters research on overcoming the barriers that prevent integration, collaboration, and better visibility in e-grocery SCs. Practical implications This work constitutes a roadmap to identify the key enabling factors of e-grocery expansion. Originality/value This is one of the few contributions focussing on increasing the efficiency of e-grocery SCs by applying management strategies supported by mobile devices.