Global Business Review

In the current volatile corporate landscape, characterized by pandemics, technology innovations and market fluctuations, efficient supply chain management practices (SCMPs) are essential for improving organizational performance. Despite their significance, there is a paucity of research examining the distinct influence of SCMPs on firm operational and financial performance (FOFP) within Pakistan’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, especially with competitive advantage (CA) serving as a mediator. This study investigates four SCMPs: strategic supplier partnerships (SSPs), information sharing (INF), customer relationship management (CRM), and postponement (PPT) and their impact on FOFP, mediated by CA. Data from 386 FMCG employees in Pakistan were gathered through a questionnaire and analyzed utilizing structural equation modelling with SMART PLS software (version 4.0). Findings demonstrate that SSP, INF and CRM substantially improve FOFP, reducing cost, enhancing delivery times, and increasing market share and profitability. Nonetheless, PPT demonstrates no substantial direct or mediated influence on FOFP, indicating its restricted relevance in FMCG settings absent strategic planning. CA positively influences the link among SSP, INF, CRM and FOFP, strengthening cost leadership and differentiation. These findings direct managers to emphasize SSPs, INF and CRM over conventional methods, perhaps using CRM-driven loyalty programmes to enhance market share.

Disruptions highlight machine learning (ML)-powered digital twins as a significant technology to ensure supply chain resilience (SCR). The authors acquired supportive data by conducting semi-structured interviews with 37 fast-moving consumer goods supply chain professionals. Using open, axial and selective coding approaches, the authors mapped and discovered the themes that constitute the essential elements of ML-enabled SCR. The findings of the research underscore four principal capabilities in which ML is poised to enhance the resilience of supply chains, namely (a) visibility, (b) supply chain analytics, (c) managing levels of inventory and (d) consumer behaviour. The research implications employ empirical data to demonstrate how integrating ML with digital twins into the supply chain enhances resilience and presents a comprehensive framework utilizing ML to improve SCR. The research draws upon the dynamic capability view theory.

The healthcare sector has undergone significant changes in recent times due to the implementation of digitalization and Industry 4.0 technology. Digital Twins (DTs), which are virtual replicas of physical objects, products and/or services, have the potential to become a significant competitive advantage within the healthcare industry. Our present study aims to fill the existing research gap and contribute to the advancement of DT in healthcare supply chain and operations management by finding the barriers for DT adoption. We achieved this by synthesizing relevant literature and conducting a systematic literature review. We have further categorized the barriers using the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework as the outcome of the research, both as a theoretical contribution and to assist industry practitioners in focusing on barriers specific to their domain for the successful implementation of DT technology. The future research avenues are proposed based on the identified barriers.

Sourcing is one of the critical activities in any supply chain due to its direct relationship with cost, quality and operational continuity. There is enough evidence to show how cost, quality and operations are controlled by employing Industry 4.0. However, in a dynamic environment, the resilience of sourcing matters due to its contribution to product cost. Therefore, this research investigates how Industry 4.0 technologies impact sourcing resilience. This study used a 17-item questionnaire survey to collect the data from 239 respondents. It employed a partial least squares and structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique to evaluate the relationship between Industry 4.0 technologies, supplier integration, sourcing flexibility and sourcing resilience. The analysis and results found that Industry 4.0 technologies directly influence sourcing resilience much faster. Results also indicate that Industry 4.0 technologies can help integrate suppliers into sourcing activities and develop sourcing flexibility. The indirect influence of Industry 4.0 technologies on sourcing resilience via supplier integration and sourcing flexibility is found to be moderately positive. This study offers a unique insight to practitioners and academics to view the supply chain from a sourcing view and shows how Industry 4.0 technologies can be helpful. Our study also highlights how sourcing can be considered as a part of the larger system and aligns with the systems theory of operations management.

This article explores the potential of blockchain technology (BCT) and digital twins (DTs) to revolutionize the management of distributed telecom infrastructure assets in developing countries. By addressing the electricity supply challenge and enhancing asset maintenance, these technologies provide opportunities for the future of telecom infrastructure in these regions. Based on an empirical review using data from quantitative and qualitative approaches, including semi-structured interviews and survey questions, the results show that blockchain and DT technologies are not only promising but also significantly enhance the efficiency of optimizing distributed telecoms asset maintenance practices. These technologies enable predictive maintenance activities, real-time visibility, and escalation of asset functionality and faults, providing reassurance about their effectiveness.

Cold chain structures today, especially post-COVID-19, must ensure that they can meet the ever-increasing requirements of customers while also ensuring the safety and quality of products for the end consumer. In order to improve cold chain performance, this study primarily analyses the critical success factors (CSFs). The total interpretive structural modelling technique was exercised to construct contextual links amongst the isolated elements and then categorized into various groups on the basis of driving force and dependence through the application of Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to a Classification (MICMAC). The Total Interpretive Structural Modelling (TISM) model emphasizes the significance of infrastructure, awareness and integration, which are the foundational factors leading to responsiveness and sustainability. MICMAC analysis established that to enhance the success of the digital cold chain, it is imperative that infrastructure, awareness, integration, traceability, safety and quality are enhanced. Enhancing these CSFs will bring about enhanced responsiveness and a sustainable digital cold chain. Decision-makers and strategists in the supply chain domain can focus on crucial factors leading to effective choices and maximize value for businesses. Although the field is still in its stage of evolution, the study aims to contribute to the expanding information on digitally-led cold network. This study is among the few to look at success elements that are essential to raising cold chain performance and establishes the framework for additional study in this area.

In supply chain operations, coordinating flexible supply chain practices with agility has become a significant challenge. To mitigate this problem, digital twin-driven flexible supply chain practices (DT-FSCP) have become essential in achieving supply chain agility (SCA), which in turn helps achieve supply chain resilience (SCR) and sustainable supply chain performance (SSCP). The supply chain operation of a manufacturing firm is significantly influenced by the perceived political skills of top management, an issue that has not been previously examined in earlier studies. Based on the research gaps and scope, this study aims to propose a research framework grounded in the supply chain practice-based view (SCPBV). The study empirically tests the conceptual model using survey data gathered from 201 respondents from Indian manufacturing firms. Structural equation modelling was employed to examine the relationships among manifest and latent variables. The study’s findings indicate that DT-FSCP plays a significant role in generating SCA, which ultimately leads to a substantial increase in SCR and SSCP. The study also finds that the political skills of a supply chain manager play a moderating role between DT-FSCP and SCA. Moreover, the study also found a significant mediating role of SCA between DT-FSCP and the two outcome performances (SCR and SSCP). The study theoretically strengthens the SCPBV from the perspective of flexibility and agility. On the practical aspect, it shows the mechanism for achieving sustainability.