Exploratory research on digitalization transformation practices within supply chain management context in developing countries specifically Egypt in the MENA region

Intelligent Warehouse in Industry 4.0-Systematic Literature Review

The development of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and the digitization and automation of manufacturing processes have created a demand for designing smart warehouses to support manufacturing processes. Warehousing is one of the fundamental processes in the supply chain, and is responsible for handling inventory. Efficient execution of warehouse operations often determines the effectiveness of realized goods flows. Therefore, digitization and its use in exchanging information between partners, especially real-time inventory levels, is critical. For this reason, the digital solutions of Industry 4.0 have quickly found application in internal logistics processes and enabled the design of smart warehouses, also known as Warehouse 4.0. The purpose of this article is to present the results of the conducted review of publications on the design and operation of warehouses using the concepts of Industry 4.0. A total of 249 documents from the last 5 years were accepted for analysis. Publications were searched for in the Web of Science database using the PRISMA method. The article presents in detail the research methodology and the results of the biometric analysis. Based on the results, a two-level classification framework was proposed, which includes 10 primary categories and 24 subcategories. Each of the distinguished categories was characterized based on the analyzed publications. It should be noted that in most of these studies, the authors' attention primarily focused on the implementation of (1) Industry 4.0 technological solutions, such as IoT, augmented reality, RFID, visual technology, and other emerging technologies; and (2) autonomous and automated vehicles in warehouse operations processes. Critical analysis of the literature also allowed us to identify the current research gaps, which will be the subject of further research by the authors.

Digital capability and creative capability to boost firm performance and formulate differentiated CSR-based strategy

Digitalization has facilitated the improvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Firms develop their internal skills to deal with external challenges stemming from the digitalization process and the COVID-19 crisis. Founded on the dynamic capability view, our paper empirically tests how firms utilize their digital and creative capabilities to improve their performance during the pandemic and promote their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. The study conducted a two-step analysis. First, the data from 151 enterprises in Vietnam was collected and analyzed qualitatively to understand their digital capabilities and export performance. Then, the Smart PLS version 3 was utilized to analyze extended quantitative data of 329 SMEs in various industries. This study contributes to the theories of dynamic capability with the implications of developing digital and creative capabilities to enhance performance and CSR differentiation strategy in dealing with external challenges, especially in global pandemics. Firm performance plays a mediating role in the relationship between capabilities and CSR differentiation strategy. Our study also enriches the CSR literature by viewing CSR as firms' achieved targets or voluntary activities instead of as an instrument to boost firm performance. This research provides the background for internationalization researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to face obstacles and overcome barriers, enhance digital and creative capabilities, engage in digital platforms, and benefit from international marketing, international retailing, and CSR activities.