Digital technology enablers and their implications for supply chain management

TLDR

Digital technologies such as AI, robotics, cloud computing, 3D printing, advanced analytics, blockchain, AR, RFID, IoT, and cloud technology are reshaping supply chain management by transforming business models, products, sales, and services. The study reviews literature to identify current research and directions on how these technologies can enable, enhance, and streamline digital supply chain performance, while examining implementation challenges and barriers to digitizing procurement and supply chains. The authors conduct a literature review that examines trends, challenges, implementation and managerial issues, and assesses the role of 5G in advancing industry digitisation.

Abstract

Several technologies drive digital trends and bring about change in SCM. They include AI and robotics, cloud computing, 3D printing, advanced analytics, blockchain, AR, RFID, IoT, and cloud technology. These technologies are changing the face of the industry, transforming many aspects of business models, supply chains, products, sales, and services. This paper conducts a literature review that aims to identify current research and directions in terms of how these technologies can enable or enhance and streamline digital supply chain (DSC) performance. This paper underscores the importance of these technologies for supply chains and logistics, examines their trends and challenges in supporting digital supply chain performance, and explores the implementation and managerial challenges of creating a new integrated paradigm of the digital supply chain. The research will also explore potential barriers to digitising procurement and supply chains and ways to overcome them. Finally, the paper reviews the role of 5 G as a significant technology for growing industry digitisation.