A cloud-based supply chain management system: effects on supply chain responsiveness

A cross-chain model for warehouse receipts in port supply chain based on notary mechanism and ShangMi cryptographic algorithms

In the evolving landscape of global trade digitalization, port supply chains play a pivotal role as critical components of international logistics. These supply chains face pressing needs to enhance the efficiency and security of warehouse receipt management. Traditional methods often grapple with challenges such as information isolation, vulnerabilities in data security, and suboptimal collaboration efficiency. This paper introduces a novel cross-chain warehouse receipt management system that leverages a notary mechanism and ShangMi (SM) cryptographic algorithms to overcome these obstacles. The system is structured around an innovative "3 + 1" multi-chain architecture, which consists of three distinct business chains-production, port, and sales-and a cross-chain management platform that orchestrates communication between these chains. The proposed system employs a layered data structure for warehouse receipts and uses differentiated encryption strategies. These features enable flexible data sharing while ensuring the protection of sensitive information. To further enhance operational efficiency, the system incorporates performance optimization strategies such as batch processing and incremental synchronization. Experimental evaluations reveal significant performance improvements over conventional systems. For instance, under conditions of 800 concurrent users, our system achieves a query latency of 485.3 milliseconds (ms) compared to 7,900 ms in the reference system, and maintains a query throughput of 565.4 transactions per second (TPS), in stark contrast to approximately 100TPS in the reference system. These results underscore the technical superiority of our approach in practical business scenarios.

The Multidisciplinary Nature of the Capability Approach: Emerging Trends and Future Research Directions Through a Bibliometric Analysis

“The Capability Approach” (CA) is a normative and critical framework for assessing the well-being of people and societies. It is a pluralistic methodology open to deliberation, with applications in various branches of the Social Sciences. The suitability of CA for social, economic, and political improvements in a wide variety of contexts is highlighted, assuming ethical principles of defence of freedom and justice. The growing interest in relation to CA is reflected in a large increase in scientific production, which makes it difficult to outline its main lines of research precisely. Our study has two goals: on the one hand, it will become a fruitful instrument to learn about the main areas of research that already exist on CA; on the other hand, it will serve to enrich them and incorporate new lines of research into the field. Having a panoramic view of the trends in CA will facilitate their work for future researchers. To this end, taking the Web of Science database from 1994 to 2022 as a reference, a bibliometric analysis based on citations is conducted using the CiteSpace program. Our findings show that 11 clearly differentiated clusters have been detected, which correspond to the essential lines of research on CA. Our bibliometric analysis contributes to revealing the evolution of the academic field of CA, with special emphasis on emerging areas.

Digital transformation and marketing: a systematic and thematic literature review

This article provides a systematic review of the extensive and fragmented literature focused on Digital Transformation (DT) and marketing by identifying the main themes and perspectives (i.e., employees, customers, and business processes) studied by previous research. By mapping the DT literature in the area of marketing, 117 articles, published between 2014 and 2020, have been identified. Through the adoption of a content analysis process, a multi-dimensional framework synthesizing the DT and marketing binomial has been provided. Results identify two thematical patterns: the macro-themes, related to the main digital technologies adopted within the marketing function, and the micro-themes, related to the effect/impact of these technologies on marketing processes and activities. Concerning the micro-themes, findings show how they have mainly studied from the customer and business processes’ perspectives, thus identifying an interesting research gap related to the analysis of the DT-marketing phenomenon from the employees’ standpoint. Based on these results, the paper derives a research agenda by also providing theoretical and managerial implications. Theoretically, it is the first systematic and thematic review focused on DT and marketing. In particular, it analyses this binomial from a broad and comprehensive perspective, thus offering a synergistic framework of the existing literature, which allows an inclusive vision and understanding about the phenomenon. At the managerial level, the paper could help organizations to enhance their awareness about marketing areas and processes that could better benefit from digitalization, thus driving the overall transition of firms towards DT.

Effects of non-technological innovation on technological innovation of small- and medium-sized enterprises: The role of the local business environment

Although non-technological innovation has been found to have influences on technological innovation of firms in the literature, some studies suggest it has no effect on technological innovation. It is unclear why these inconsistent findings have emerged. This study utilises longitudinal data from the biennial surveys of Vietnamese manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises and data from the Provincial Competitiveness Index surveys during the period from 2011 to 2015 and applies various estimation techniques. Findings demonstrate that the effects of non-technological innovation, which includes organisational and marketing innovation, on product and process innovation vary with the quality of the local business environment. Enterprises operating in a higher-quality local business environment have a higher probability of adopting product and process innovation than others. These findings suggest that policies to improve the business environment should be combined with other innovation policies to facilitate innovation of small- and medium-sized enterprises in transition economies.

How Does Misinformation and Capricious Opinions Impact the Supply Chain - A Study on the Impacts During the Pandemic

Misinformation or fake news has had multifaceted ramifications with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, creating widespread panic amongst people. This study investigates the impact of misinformation/ fake news (on internet platforms) on consumer buying behavior, impact of fear (created by fake news) on hoarding of essential products and consumer spending and finally impact of misinformation-induced panic buying on supply chain disruptions. It draws upon the consumer decision theory and the cognitive load theory for explaining the psychological and behavioral responses of consumers. The study follows an inductive approach towards theory building using a multi-method approach. Initially, a qualitative research method based on interviews followed by text-mining has been used followed by analysis using python for topic modelling using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA). The findings revealed several prominent themes like consumer shift to online buying, two contrasting spending intentions namely financial security and compensatory consumptions, irrational panic buying, uncertainty/ambiguity of government protocol and norms, social media fraudulent practices and misinformation dissemination, personalized buying experience, reduced trust on news and marketers, logistics and transportation bottlenecks, labor shortage due to migration and plant closures, and bullwhip effect in supply chains.

An investigation of transportation logistics strategy on manufacturing supply chain responsiveness in developing countries: the mediating role of delivery reliability and delivery speed

This study aims to investigate and examine the impact of delivery reliability (DR) and delivery speed (DS) on the relationship between a manufacturing firm's transportation logistics strategy (TLS) and supply chain responsiveness (SCR). Furthermore, it examine the impacts of SCR on manufacturing firm performance (MFP). A quantitative methodology was used for the purposes of gathering and analysing primary data for this empirical study, which included 212 participants in large-sized manufacturing firms in the Middle East Territory. A web-based survey was used for the data gathering process and applied after conducting a small pilot study. The conceptual model was tested by using a hypothesis-testing deductive approach. The findings are based on covariance-based analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS software. The findings show that DR is mediating partially the relationship between TLS and MSCR, and that DS is mediating fully the relationship; further, it is pointed out that SCR is supported with improved MFP. The empirical findings can have insightful implications for managers and practitioners in terms of boosting competitive advantage and financial performance.

Investigating the relationship between digital technologies, supply chain integration and firm resilience in the context of COVID-19

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly augmented the complexity of information, adding to the challenges that firms face in effectively processing and grasping accurate information. As a result, the production uncertainty of firms has been seriously intensified during the pandemic, disrupting the normal operation of firms and their supply chains. Digital technologies serve as salient tools that help firms to process and analyse information, consequently enhancing firm resilience in the face of supply chain disruptions. This study aims to examine how digital technologies affect firm resilience in the context of COVID-19 through the lens of information processing theory and a large-scale survey conducted among Chinese manufacturers. Specifically, our study evaluates the mediating effect of supply chain integration (internal integration, customer integration and supplier integration) and the moderating effect of information complexity. The results show that supply chain integration plays a mediating role in the effect of digital technologies on firm resilience, and the mediation effect is particularly significant for customer integration. Furthermore, digital technologies have a stronger impact on firm resilience when information complexity is high. The findings advance our understanding and recognition of the resilience implications of digital technologies and provide important managerial implications for improving firm resilience in the context of COVID-19.

Technology-Driven Responsiveness in Times of COVID-19: A Fuzzy Delphi and Fuzzy AHP-Based Approach

Supply chain responsiveness creates value for firms and their stakeholders and is a key towards generating above-normal profits for firms. Consequently, there has been a surge of research on it, which has expanded due to the pressures to be responsive during the pandemic of COVID19. Responsiveness is an attribute wherein the supply chains are equipped to respond resolutely and within a suitable timeframe to consumer requirements. The trouble to businesses posed by COVID-19 caught several firms off-guard. Further, there is limited research on the augmentation of supply chain responsiveness through new technologies. The present research, therefore, applies a hybrid approach by combining fuzzy Delphi and fuzzy AHP to understand the technology-driven enablers of supply chain responsiveness by employing a case company in food retail. The investigation reveals that supply chain integration technologies, sustainable manufacturing technologies, and smart warehousing are the most important enablers of supply chain responsiveness in the context of food supply chains. The results aid the key enablers that need attention and resources to be directed towards these enablers to eliminate a chance of missing on a successful transition into a more responsive supply chain.

Does cloud computing influence enterprise performance?

The emergence of the cloud computing service has resulted in the entry of many companies into the market, with numerous competitors for cloud computing leading the technological trend. Recent studies have mainly focused on the characteristics of cloud computing, whereas its influence on firm performance has been rarely discussed. Therefore, this study aimed to fill this empirical research gap. This current study examined whether investments in cloud computing can influence firm performance and whether cloud computing influences firm performance. Data were collected using a questionnaire. Structural equation modeling provided evidence supporting the theoretical model. The results of this study revealed that cloud computing investment influences firm learning and growth performance, internal processes, and finances. The theoretical and practical contributions and implications of these findings are described in this paper.

Supply chain resilience in mindful humanitarian aid organizations: the role of big data analytics

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the nomological network of associations between collective mindfulness and big data analytics in fostering resilient humanitarian relief supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conceptualize a research model grounded in literature and test the hypotheses using survey data collected from informants at humanitarian aid organizations in Africa and Europe.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that organizational mindfulness is key to enabling resilient humanitarian relief supply chains, as opposed to just big data analytics.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine organizational mindfulness and big data analytics in the context of humanitarian relief supply chains.

Effects of cloud computing assimilation on supply chain financing risks of SMEs

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how cloud computing assimilation reduces supply chain financing (SCF) risks of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study also investigated the mediating roles of internal and external supply chain integration between cloud computing assimilation and the SCF risks of SMEs, as well as the moderating role of environmental competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from surveys of SMEs located in China. Multiple regression analysis was used to validate the proposed theoretical model and research hypotheses.

Findings

The findings show that cloud computing assimilation could reduce the SCF risks of SMEs directly. The results also indicate that both internal and external supply chain integration mediate the relationship between cloud computing assimilation and SCF risks. Furthermore, environmental competitiveness inhibits the effects of cloud computing assimilation on SCF risks.

Originality/value

To our best knowledge, this is the preliminary study to explore the role of cloud computing assimilation in reducing the SCF risks of SMEs. Also, this study attempted to investigate the process by which cloud computing assimilation affects the SCF risks of SMEs.

The effect of supply chain responsiveness on customer development

Purpose

The study examines how supply chain responsiveness (logistics process responsiveness, operations systems responsiveness and supplier network responsiveness) impacts the ability of firms to attract, satisfy and retain customers.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a quantitative approach, a total of 250 questionnaires were distributed to firms in the Kumasi metropolis in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, with 100 useable responses retrieved. The effect of supply chain responsiveness on customer development was analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling.

Findings

The findings showed that operations systems responsiveness and supplier network responsiveness drive the logistics systems responsiveness of firms as hypothesized. It was also revealed that operations systems responsiveness and logistics process responsiveness enhanced customer development, but supplier network responsiveness did not. Logistics process responsiveness additionally partially mediated the effect of operations systems responsiveness on customer development.

Originality/value

To the best of the researchers' knowledge, no previous studies have empirically examined interrelationships between the dimensions of supply chain responsiveness. Additionally, no previous study has examined the effect of supply chain responsiveness on customer development.

Supply chain integration and Industry 4.0: a systematic literature review

Purpose

The current industrial revolution is powered by data, which is also referred as Industry 4.0. The Industry 4.0 has attracted significant attention from academia and the industry professionals. The supply chain integration (SCI) has played a significant role in enhancing supply chain performance and organizational performance. This study explores the relationship between Industry 4.0 and SCI via an extensive literature review to understand the various levels of integration with the supply chain processes and to identify missing links, through a framework, and suggest further research directions.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, we have used systematic literature review approach to identify the building blocks of the conceptual framework, which is the main contribution of the present study. We have used Scopus database to search literature using keywords.

Findings

The study offers some interesting insights that may help scholars to advance theoretical debates. Moreover, the study also provides interesting direction to the practitioners engaged in supply chain management in data-driven environment. In this study, we have proposed a conceptual framework for the adoption of Industry 4.0 and SCI.

Research limitations/implications

In this study we have proposed a conceptual framework. However, the framework is yet to be empirically tested. Hence, we caution readers to evaluate the findings of the present study in context to its limitations. This is an attempt to develop a conceptual framework which may be tested using longitudinal data.

Originality/value

The present work helps in integrating two independent subjects', i.e. Industry 4.0 and SCI. The theoretical framework presented here integrates Industry 4.0 and SCI which can be useful to the practitioners and policymakers engaged in implementing Industry 4.0.

Digital transformation of traditional marketing business model in new industry era

Purpose

Impact of the digitalization on the production and service sector is a highly popular topic in these days and especially, new business models receive increasingly more attention. Under the light of digitalization, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, so-called Industry 4.0, and its impacts on all kinds of process is a promising topic in the academia and also beneficial for the practitioners. Since there are arguments from scholars that Industry 4.0 has an important and shaping effect on marketing, the concept of 7P's in marketing should be incorporated in Industry 4.0 elements. From this point of view, this study focuses on developing the understanding of 7P's based on contemporary perspectives of Industry 4.0.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to do that, different criteria related to integration of Industry 4.0 and marketing practices under each marketing-mix element are presented and one of the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods, the best–worst method (BWM) is used to prioritize the criteria for future implications.

Findings

Results indicated that product, process and physical evidence are the most affected marketing-mix factors by considering Industry 4.0. managerial implications which were also presented based on the numerical results.

Originality/value

An in-depth analysis of literature review related to Industry 4.0 revealed that changing and developing technologies are examined in detail mostly around a production perspective. In order to fulfill the gap in the knowledge, this study focuses on the examination of impacts of Industry 4.0 on the marketing-mix strategy. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study which merges Industry 4.0 with the marketing mix.

Mediating effect of big data analytics on project performance of small and medium enterprises

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the mediating role of “Big Data Analytics” played between “Project Performance” and nine factors including top management, project knowledge management focus on sustainability, green purchasing, environmental technologies, social responsibility, project operational capabilities, project complexity, collaboration and explorative learning, and project success.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 321 responses from 106 Indian manufacturing small and medium-scaled enterprises (SMEs) was collected. Data were analyzed using empirical analysis through structural equation modeling.

Findings

The result shows that project knowledge management, green purchasing and project operational capabilities require the mediating support of big data analytics. The adoption of big data analytics has a positive influence on project performance in the manufacturing sector.

Practical implications

This study is useful to SMEs managers, practitioners and government policymakers to develop an understanding of big data analytics, eliminate challenges in the adoption of big data, and formulate strategies to handle projects efficiently in SMEs in the context of Indian manufacturing.

Originality/value

For the first time, big data for manufacturing firms handing innovative projects was discussed in the Indian SME context.

Quantifying SWOT analysis for cloud adoption using FAHP-DEMATEL approach: evidence from the manufacturing sector

Purpose

This study aims to identify the critical factors (barriers and drivers) influencing the adoption of cloud computing (ACC) in the manufacturing sector in India.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a mixed methodology approach is used. Interviews are conducted to investigate factors (drivers and barriers) influencing the ACC, which are further categorized as controllable determinants (weaknesses and strengths) and uncontrollable determinants (threats and opportunities) using a SWOT analysis. Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) has been utilized to highlight the most critical drivers as well as barriers. Finally, decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) has been used to find the cause-effect relationships among factors and their influence on the decision of adoption.

Findings

The manufacturing sector is in the digital and value change transformation phase with Industry 4.0, that is, the next industrial revolution. The 24 critical factors influencing ACC are subdivided into strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The FAHP analysis ranked time to market, competitive advantage, business agility, data confidentiality and lack of government policy standards as the most critical factors. The cause-effect relationships highlight that time to market is the most significant causal factor, and resistance to technology is the least significant effect factor. The results of the study elucidate that the strengths of ACC are appreciably more than its weaknesses.

Research limitations/implications

This study couples the technology acceptance model (TAM) with technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework and adds an economic perspective to examine the significant influences of ACC in the Indian manufacturing sector. Further, it contributes to the knowledge of ACC in general and provides valuable insights into interrelationships among factors influencing the decision and strategies of adoption in particular.

Originality/value

This is the first scholarly work in the Indian manufacturing sector that uses the analysis from SWOT and FAHP approach as a base for identifying cause-effect relationships between the critical factors influencing ACC. Further, based on the extant literature and analysis of this work, an adoption framework has been proposed that justifies that ACC is not just a technological challenge but is also an environmental, economic and organizational challenge that includes organizational issues, costs and need for adequate government policies.

Arbitrage in gray markets and its impact on supply chain decisions

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of different gray markets’ structures on both supply chain decisions and associated profits.

Design/methodology/approach

Within the context of gray markets, using game theory approach in this paper, supply chains have been considered as assets of manufacturers, distributors and speculators, within which manufacturers sell products to distinctive markets either directly or through authorized distributors, while speculators buy products from a lower price market and then sell them in a higher price market. Our study has examined different decision variables within such a framework.

Findings

Considering a situation where one manufacturer sells its products either directly in one market (Market 1) or through its authorized distributor (Market 2), due to different products prices in both markets, results have shown that, when market elasticity is less than its critical value, a speculator can sell a gray market product arbitrage in market 2, whereas when the market elasticity is greater than its critical value, a speculator can sell a gray market product arbitrage in market 1. In addition, manufacturers—as leaders of Stackelberg game—are always the most profitable stakeholders within a gray market supply chain.

Practical implications

In this study, equilibrium results for each market have been obtained, optimal results have been compared, and accordingly, valuable insights have been developed. Such results would help managers to take better managerial decisions, as well as strategizing policies in gray markets.

Originality/value

In this paper, we have considered a gray market where both distributors and speculators exist and act as parallel channels. To the best of our knowledge, the extant literature focuses either on distributors or speculators, but never concurrently on both. In fact, the coexistence of one distributor and one speculator in a gray market will impact their own decisions, as well as both decisions and profits of other stakeholders, and hence, will exert an impact on the manufacturer side.

An integrated fuzzy-ANP and fuzzy-ISM approach using blockchain for sustainable supply chain

Purpose

The main objective of this paper is to justify the implementation of blockchain (BC) over the traditional method deployed in the supply chain (SC) after using the fuzzy–analytic network process (fuzzy-ANP) application. Over the past two decades, the overall product cost is affected by the SC at a global level. Organizations are working on their existing SC for improving their performance. BC technology is a newly emerging technology and magnetizes the attention of researchers and industrialists. This technology is still at the initial stage, and only little investigation is available in the literature and it has not been much investigated by researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature and expert opinion interpretation in BC characteristics are further analyzed and modeled using fuzzy–interpretive structural modeling (fuzzy-ISM), fuzzy-MICMAC and fuzzy-ANP. The combined approach of both fuzzy-ISM and fuzzy-MICMAC is applied to identify the common drivers to integrate the BC technology in the light of efficient supply chain management (SCM).

Findings

Comparative analysis between traditional and BC-based supply chain (BCSC) using fuzzy-ANP is carried out, considering the common driving characteristics. The proposed integrated (combined) approach of fuzzy-ISM, fuzzy-MICMAC and Fuzzy-ANP found that integration of BC with SCM is better prioritized than traditional supply chain management (TSCM). The findings in the article endorse that the TSCM can be made efficient by integrating the BC technology considering five most driving characteristics, namely, data safety and decentralization, accessibility, documentation, data management and quality.

Originality/value

The current proposed research work identifies 12 characteristics after studying numerous literature reviews and having a discussion with SC experts with knowledge of BC. The integrated approach of fuzzy-ISM and fuzzy-MICMAC is implemented here. After that, fuzzy-ANP is used to give ranking among BCSCM and TSCM. The study carried out in this article motivates industries to implement BC in their SC system. It will reduce the transaction cost, documentation work, save time and eliminate human error at the national and international levels. The common characteristics identified in this proposed work would help in managerial decisions for the adoption of BC to ensure that the system becomes more transparent, easily traceable and finally improve the performance.