scholarly journals Leveraging Capabilities of Technology into a Circular Supply Chain to Build Circular Business Models: A State-of-the-Art Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 8997
Author(s):  
Ahmed Zainul Abideen ◽  
Jaafar Pyeman ◽  
Veera Pandiyan Kaliani Sundram ◽  
Ming-Lang Tseng ◽  
Shahryar Sorooshian

The recent technological inclusions in supply chains are encouraging practitioners to continuously rethink and redesign these supply chains. Organizations are trying to implement sustainable manufacturing and supply chain practices to utilize their resources to the full extent in order to gain a competitive advantage. Circular supply chain management acts as the main pathway to achieve optimal circular business models; however, research in this area is still in its infancy and there is a need to study and analyze how the benefits of technology can be leveraged in conventional models to impact circular supply chains and build smart, sustainable, circular business models. To gain better familiarity with the future research paradigms, a detailed systematic literature review was conducted on this topic to identify the dynamics of this field and domains deserving further academic attention. A holistic and unique review technique was used by the authors to capture maximal insights. A total of 96 publications from 2010 to 2021 were selected from the Web of Science core collection database through strict keyword search codes and exclusion criteria, with neat integration of systematic and bibliometric analyses. The findings of this study highlight the knowledge gaps and future research directions, which are presented at the end of this paper.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4206
Author(s):  
Jamilya Nurgazina ◽  
Udsanee Pakdeetrakulwong ◽  
Thomas Moser ◽  
Gerald Reiner

The lack of transparency and traceability in food supply chains (FSCs) is raising concerns among consumers and stakeholders about food information credibility, food quality, and safety. Insufficient records, a lack of digitalization and standardization of processes, and information exchange are some of the most critical challenges, which can be tackled with disruptive technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and distributed ledger technologies (DLTs). Studies provide evidence that novel technological and sustainable practices in FSCs are necessary. This paper aims to describe current practical applications of DLTs and IoT in FSCs, investigating the challenges of implementation, and potentials for future research directions, thus contributing to achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Within a systematic literature review, the content of 69 academic publications was analyzed, describing aspects of implementation and measures to address the challenges of scalability, security, and privacy of DLT, and IoT solutions. The challenges of high costs, standardization, regulation, interoperability, and energy consumption of DLT solutions were also classified as highly relevant, but were not widely addressed in literature. The application of DLTs in FSCs can potentially contribute to 6 strategic SDGs, providing synergies and possibilities for more sustainable, traceable, and transparent FSCs.


Author(s):  
Kirti Chawla ◽  
Gabriel Robins

RFID technology can help competitive organizations optimize their supply chains. However, it may also enable adversaries to exploit covert channels to surreptitiously spy on their competitors. We explain how tracking tags and compromising readers can create covert channels in supply chains and cause detrimental economic effects. To mitigate such attacks, the authors propose a framework that enables an organization to monitor its supply chain. The supply chain is modeled as a network flow graph, where tag flow is verified at selected key nodes, and covert channels are actively sought. While optimal taint checkpoint node selection is algorithmically intractable, the authors propose node selection and flow verification heuristics with various tradeoffs. The chapter discusses economically viable countermeasures against supply chain-based covert channels, and suggests future research directions.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bharat Singh Patel ◽  
Murali Sambasivan

Purpose The purpose of this study is to critically examine the scholarly articles associated Murali Sambasivan with the diverse aspects of supply chain agility (SCA). The review highlights research insights, existing gaps and future research directions that can help academicians and practitioners gain a comprehensive understanding of SCA. Design/methodology/approach The present study has adopted author co-citation analysis as the research methodology, with a view to thoroughly investigating the good-quality articles related to SCA that have been published over a period of 22 years (1999-2020). In this study, 126 research papers on SCA – featuring diverse aspects of agility – from various reputed journals have been examined, analysed and assimilated. Findings The salient findings of this research are, namely, agility is different from other similar concepts, such as flexibility, leanness, adaptability and resilience; of the 13 dimensions of agility discussed in the literature, the prominent ones are quickness, responsiveness, competency and flexibility; literature related to SCA can be categorised as related to modelling the enablers, agility assessment, agility implementation, leagility and agility maximisation. This research proposes a more practical definition and framework for SCA. The probable areas for future research are, namely, impediments to agility, effective approaches to agility assessment, cost-benefit trade-offs to be considered whilst implementing agility, empirical research to validate the framework and SCA in the domain of healthcare and disaster relief supply chains. Practical implications This paper provides substantial insights to practitioners who primarily focus on measuring and implementing agility in the supply chain. The findings of this study will help the supply chain manager gain a better idea about how to become competitive in today’s dynamic and turbulent business environment. Originality/value The originality of this study is in: comprehensively identifying the various issues related to SCA, such as related concepts, definitions, dimensions and different categories of studies covered in literature, proposing a new definition and framework for SCA and identifying potential areas for future research, to provide deeper insights into the subject and highlight areas for future research.


Author(s):  
Mondher Feki

Big data has emerged as the new frontier in supply chain management; however, few firms know how to embrace big data and capitalize on its value. The non-stop production of massive amounts of data on various digital platforms has prompted academics and practitioners to focus on the data economy. Companies must rethink how to harness big data and take full advantage of its possibilities. Big data analytics can help them in giving valuable insights. This chapter provides an overview of big data analytics use in the supply chain field and underlines its potential role in the supply chain transformation. The results show that big data analytics techniques can be categorized into three types: descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive. These techniques influence supply chain processes and create business value. This study sets out future research directions.


2011 ◽  
pp. 192-205
Author(s):  
Helena Halas ◽  
Tomaž Klobucar

This chapter explores the influence of pervasive computing on companies and their businesses, with the main stress on business models. The role of business models for companies is presented. Introduction to pervasive computing and a survey of existing e-business models classifications are used as a base for our research. The main characteristics of today’s business models are discussed and a method for evaluating business models characteristics is proposed. We concentrate on characteristics of pervasive computing and their influence on companies’ business processes and business models. The present and future business characteristics and business models are briefly compared, and future research directions on pervasive computing and business models are presented.


Author(s):  
Luiz Eduardo Marques Bastos

This chapter addresses the so-called Industry 4.0 and some of its applications in industrial pumps, seeking to emphasize its characteristics and benefits. The introduction of 4.0 industry technologies in this traditional industry can cause profound changes in existing business models, providing greater customer satisfaction, either improving the effectiveness of equipment operation, contributing to better adjustment to working conditions, and also prolonging their life cycle. We are still in the early stages of these technologies and a lot is yet to evolve; however, there are already interesting examples developed by some pump manufacturers around the world, some of which will be mentioned in this chapter. It is subdivided into three main parts, namely brief historical panorama from the first industrial revolution to Industry 4.0, current applications in the industrial pump industry, and finally, future research directions and conclusion.


Author(s):  
Helena Halas ◽  
Tomaž Klobucar

This chapter explores the influence of pervasive computing on companies and their businesses, with the main stress on business models. The role of business models for companies is presented. Introduction to pervasive computing and a survey of existing e-business models classifications are used as a base for our research. The main characteristics of today’s business models are discussed and a method for evaluating business models characteristics is proposed. We concentrate on characteristics of pervasive computing and their influence on companies’ business processes and business models. The present and future business characteristics and business models are briefly compared, and future research directions on pervasive computing and business models are presented.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 686-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saara A. Brax ◽  
Anu Bask ◽  
Juliana Hsuan ◽  
Chris Voss

Purpose Services are highly important in a world economy which has increasingly become service driven. There is a growing need to better understand the possibilities for, and requirements of, designing modular service architectures. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the roots of the emerging research stream on service modularity, provide a concise overview of existing work on the subject, and outline an agenda for future research on service modularity and architecture. The articles in the special issue offer four diverse sets of research on service modularity and architecture. Design/methodology/approach The paper is built on a literature review mapping the current body of literature on the topic and developing future research directions in service modularity and architecture. Findings The growing focus on services has triggered needs to investigate the suitability and implementation of physical-product-focused modularity principles and theories in service contexts, and to search for principles/theories that enhance services. The expanding research stream has explored various aspects of service modularity in empirical contexts. Future research should focus on service-specific modularity theories and principles, platform-based and mass-customized service business models, comparative research designs, customer perspectives and service experience, performance in context of modular services, empirical evidence of benefits and challenges, architectural innovation in services, modularization in multi-provider contexts, and modularity in hybrid offerings combining service and tangible product modules. Originality/value Nine areas are recommended for further research on service modularity and architecture. The introductory piece also discusses the roots of service modularity and provides an overview of current contributions.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document