Verifying the effects of digitalisation in retail logistics: an efficiency-centred approach

Spatial impact of the digital economy on low-carbon logistics efficiency in RCEP countries

A thorough study of the spatial impact of the digital economy on low-carbon logistics efficiency would be greatly significant for Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) countries to improve low-carbon logistics efficiency and achieve sustainable cooperation. This study constructs a theoretical framework from the perspective of spatial effects on the impact of the digital economy on low-carbon logistics efficiency in RCEP countries. The entropy method was used to measure the level of digital economic development. The super-efficiency SBM model was used to measure low-carbon logistics efficiency. Spatial feature analysis was conducted using kernel density estimation and Moran's index, followed by empirical analysis using spatial econometric models to examine the spatial impact of the digital economy on low-carbon logistics efficiency in RCEP countries. The results indicate that in RCEP countries, both low-carbon logistics efficiency and the level of digital economic development exhibit significant spatial positive correlation. Furthermore, the digital economy can promote low-carbon logistics efficiency in economically neighboring countries through spatial spillover effects. The improvement of domestic low-carbon logistics efficiency can also promote low-carbon logistics efficiency in neighboring countries. This conclusion was supported by endogeneity tests and a convergence analysis. Additionally, the mechanism analysis revealed that improving the level of green energy can enhance the spatial spillover effects of the digital economy and promote low-carbon logistics efficiency. Finally, countermeasures and suggestions was proposed to improve the low-carbon logistics efficiency of RCEP countries through the digital economy.

Embracing supply chain digitalization and unphysicalization to enhance supply chain performance: a conceptual framework

Purpose

The paper presents a research methodology that could be used to carry out a systematic literature review on the current state of the art of the technological development in the field of the digitalization and unphysicalization of supply chains (SCs). A three-dimensional conceptual framework focusing on the relationship between Digital Technologies (DTs), business processes and SC performance is presented. The study identifies the emerging practices and areas of SC management that could be positively affected by the implementation of DTs. With this in mind, the emerging practices have a high probability to be considered future best practices.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review was conducted on DTs in SC management. The methodology used aims to algorithmically and objectively standardize the information incorporated into thousands of scientific documents. Selected papers were analyzed to investigate the recent literature on SC digitalization and unphysicalization. A total of 87 DTs were selected to be analyzed and subsequently grouped into 11 macro-categories. 17 business processes linked to SC management are taken into account and 17 different impacts on SC management are presented. From a set of 1,585 papers, 5,060 emerging practices were collected and singularly summarized combining DT, business process and impact on SC performance.

Findings

A unique analytical perspective provided represents an important evolution when trying to organize the current literature on SC management. The widely used DTs in the practices and the most considered business processes and impacts are highlighted and described. The three-dimensional conceptual framework is graphically represented to allow for the emergence of the best combinations of DT, business process and impact on SC performance. These combinations suggest the most promising areas for the implementation of the emerging practices for SC digitalization and unphysicalization. Additional findings identify and define the most important contexts in which Big Data contributes to SC performance.

Originality/value

The research methodology used is offering progress through which to systemize the current practices as well as detect the potential of digitalization and unphysicalization under the three-dimensional conceptual framework. The paper provides a structured proposal for promising future research directions, assuming that the five research gaps as findings of this research could be the basis for prescriptions, as well as a future research agenda and theory development. Moreover, this research contributes to current managerial issues concerning SC management, referred to data and information management, efficiency and productivity of SC processes, market performance, SC relationship management and risk management in SC.

Digital transformation: A meta-review and guidelines for future research

The emergence of digital transformation has changed the business landscape for the foreseeable future. As scholars advance their understanding and digital transformation begins to gain maturity, it becomes necessary to develop a synthesis to create solid foundations. To do so, significant steps need to be taken to critically, rigorously, and transparently examine the existing literature. Therefore, this article uses a meta-review with the support of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) Protocol. As a result, we identified six dimensions and seventeen categories related to digital transformation. The organizational, technological, and social dimensions are still pivotal in digital transformation, while two new dimensions (sustainability and smart cities) still need to be explored in the existing literature. The need to deepen knowledge in digital transformation and refine the dimensions found is of paramount importance, as it involves some complexity due to organizational dynamics and the development of new technologies. It was also possible to identify opportunities, challenges, and future directions.

The Impact of Digitalization on Supply Chain Integration and Performance

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between digitalization, supply chain integration, and firm performance. Data are analyzed by the partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed that both digitalization in the supply chain and supply chain external integration positively affected company performance. Further, supply chain external integration partially mediated the relationship between supply chain digitalization and firm performance. In addition, it was found that financial performance is enhanced through different paths for large enterprises and SMEs. Large enterprises improve financial performance through supply chain integration after efforts spent on the digitalization of their supply chain, while SMEs improve financial performance directly through supply chain digitalization. These findings provide insights for managers and policymakers of large enterprises and SMEs in formulating appropriate implementation strategies for digital transformation.