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Digital Transformation and Sustainable Supply Chain Management

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 49288

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mingu Kang

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Guest Editor

School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: sustainable supply chain management; technological innovation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Yugyeom Oh

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Guest Editor

Research Institute of Asian Enterprise, SolBridge International School of Business at Woosong University, Daejeon, Korea
Interests: international logistics; marketing

Dr. Taewon Kang

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Guest Editor

Associate Professor, Department of Supply Chain and Logistics, Kunsan National University, Gunsan 54150, Republic of Korea
Interests: cold chain management; e-retail
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Zhaojun Han

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Guest Editor

Assistant Professor, School of Economics and Management, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
Interests: green supply chain; supply chain digital transformation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recently, operations and supply chains have been experiencing significant changes resulting from technological transformations. Specifically, the digitalization of a firm’s internal and external supply chain processes has become one of the key topics concerning scholars and practitioners. Digitalization tightly connects the supply chain, completely changing the way data are collected, distributed, and processed in the supply chain network. The increased traceability and visibility of the supply chain achieved by digitalization not only makes transactions more transparent and efficient but also opens new opportunities for sustainable operations and supply chain management. In other words, extending the digitalization issue into operations and supply chain management is a crucial step in improving the firm-level and supply-chain-level sustainability performances. However, in addition to such promises, the challenge of integrating digitalization with the sustainability issues across the entire supply chain is still enormous, requiring further investigation.

The present Special Issue entitled “Digital transformation and sustainable supply chain management” provokes discussion about important issues in the field of sustainability and aims to explore the drivers, processes, and output performance behind digitalization initiatives for a sustainable supply chain.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Strategic roles of digital transformation in operations and sustainable supply chain management;
Drivers of digitalization in the field of sustainability;
Challenges and opportunities of digitalization in the field of sustainability;
Different digital technologies and their effects on sustainable supply chain performance;
Effects of digital analytic capability on sustainable supply chain performance;
The digital platform, business model transformation, and sustainable supply chain;
Digital transformation and the formation and evolution of the sustainable ecosystems;
The joint effect of digital technologies and the social factors in the field of sustainability.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Mingu Kang
Dr. Yugyeom Oh
Dr. Taewon Kang
Dr. Zhaojun Han
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

digital transformation
digitalization
digital technology
sustainable supply chain management
sustainable performance

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 597 KiB

Open AccessArticle

COVID-19, Digital Transformation of Banks, and Operational Capabilities of Commercial Banks

by Yongjie Zhu and Shanyue Jin

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8783; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118783 - 29 May 2023

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5352

Abstract

The development of financial technology has promoted the innovation and digital transformation of commercial banks. Through digital transformation, commercial banks can improve bank efficiency and operational capabilities. Through empirical analysis, this study explored the relationship between digital bank transformation and commercial bank operating capabilities and how COVID-19, bank categories, and enterprise life cycles affect the relationship between digital bank transformation and commercial bank operating capabilities. This study selected data from China’s commercial banks from 2011 to 2021 and used the regression method of fixed effects to conduct an empirical analysis. The research results show that the digital transformation of banks has improved the operational capabilities of commercial banks. Further analysis showed that the emergence of COVID-19 has negatively affected their relationship. At the same time, compared with rural commercial banks and commercial banks in the recession and phase-out periods, non-rural commercial banks and commercial banks in the growth and maturity stages play a more vital moderating role in the impact of the digital transformation of banks on the financial performance of commercial banks. The main research object of this study is Chinese commercial banks, and this study examines the results of banks’ digital transformation and enriches the research on digital transformation. At the same time, this study is helpful to investors who like investment banks and has good practical significance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Transformation and Sustainable Supply Chain Management)

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13 pages, 1451 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring and Evaluating the Commodification of Sustainable Rural Living Areas in Zhejiang, China

by Chen Wei and Guoquan Zheng

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3349; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043349 - 11 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1566

Abstract

This study aims to construct an evaluation index system to measure the commodification of living space in Chinese rural areas and investigate the spatial characteristics of the commodification. Based on the dataset collected from public institutions in Zhejiang province, this study applies the entropy method to calculate the weights of the evaluation indicators and the commodification level. The results reveal that overall commodification levels of rural spaces in Zhejiang Province are different from each other due to different levels of economic development, transportation, tourism resources, and government support. In addition, this study suggests appropriate commodification strategies corresponding to the commodification development potential of the four types of rural living spaces (i.e., advanced development areas, promotion development areas, transformation development areas, and potential development areas). This study provides an evaluation index system measuring the commodification of rural living places and guidelines for effectively developing commodification of rural places. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Transformation and Sustainable Supply Chain Management)

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11 pages, 520 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digitalization of the Healthcare Supply Chain through the Adoption of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems in Hospitals: An Empirical Study on Influencing Factors and Cost Performance

by Christos Bialas, Dimitrios Bechtsis, Eirini Aivazidou, Charisios Achillas and Dimitrios Aidonis

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3163; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043163 - 9 Feb 2023

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5909

Abstract

Rising healthcare costs force healthcare organizations worldwide to reconsider their business strategies. Hospital managers are tasked with lowering operating costs while upholding the high quality of care, two goals perceived as contradictory by many healthcare professionals. Attempting to contribute towards reaching these goals, the study explores the digitalization of the healthcare supply chain through the adoption of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and its impact on hospital supply chain costs. Established technology adoption theories are synthesized to develop a research model that investigates the adoption of hospital ERP systems and its impact on supply chain cost performance. The framework is validated via structural equation modeling (SEM) with data collected from 107 Greek public hospitals. The results indicate that technological and organizational readiness, hospital size, governmental policies, and perceived benefits have a significant influence on the extent of ERP systems adoption. They also demonstrate a statistically significant association between the use of ERP systems and hospital supply chain costs. The present study highlights the influencing factors of ERP systems adoption in hospitals and provides empirical evidence on the resulting cost benefits., This implies greater urgency for hospitals to digitalize their supply chain by implementing and fully exploiting the ERP systems’ functionality in order to reach their goal of delivering quality care at a lower cost. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Transformation and Sustainable Supply Chain Management)

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16 pages, 271 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Changes in Financial Performance on Value Creation in Digital Transformation: A Comparison with Undigitalized Firms

by Sang-Bong An and Ki-Chang Yoon

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2083; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032083 - 21 Jan 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3514

Abstract

We attempted to analyze the effect of changes in financial performance after digital transformation on firm value creation, compared to undigitalized firms for digitally transformed firms listed in the KOSPI market in Korea. To this end, we conducted an independent sample t-test and a multivariate regression analysis for a total of 12,143 firms listed on the KOSDAQ market, from 2011 to 2021. As a result of the empirical analysis of our study, it was confirmed that digitally transformed firms showed differential results in changes in financial performance compared to undigitalized firms. Overall, changes in profitability, stability, and growth are excellent, but in some aspects of activity and productivity, it is confirmed that they are weaker than undigitalized firms. In addition, it was confirmed that there was a difference in the change in the current ratio and the total asset turnover rate in the changes in the financial performance affecting the value creation. Nonetheless, there were insignificant differences in other variables. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Transformation and Sustainable Supply Chain Management)

13 pages, 403 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of VR Shopping in Digitalization of SCM for Sustainable Management: Application of SOR Model and Experience Economy

by Sang-Lin Han, Janghyun Kim and Myounga An

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1277; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021277 - 10 Jan 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2988

Abstract

Shopping malls in virtual reality (VR) environments have created a new paradigm of distribution environments as a strategy of digital consumption experience for sustainable management in the fast-changing digitalization of SCM. This study implemented a VR shopping environment to examine how telepresence and interactivity affect the consumers’ usage behavior after experiencing a VR shopping environment by applying the SOM model and experience economy, and suggests the role of VR shopping in the digitalization of SCM for sustainable management. First, this study examined the impact of telepresence and interactivity on time distortion and enjoyment based on the experience economy and flow theory. Second, the relationship between time distortion and perceived enjoyment during the VR shopping experience was tested. The study also examined whether the perceived enjoyment affected behavioral intention. As a research method for this study, we directly implemented a VR supermarket, and had 120 people participate in the survey after experiencing the VR supermarket. Additionally, a structural equation model was used to verify the proposed hypothesis model. The study findings show that both telepresence and interactivity have a significant relationship with time distortion and enjoyment. Time distortion was verified to have partial mediating effects on the relationship between telepresence and enjoyment. Time distortion had a positive impact on enjoyment, which in turn was verified to have a significant effect on the consumers’ behavioral intention. In other words, in order to digitize SCM for sustainable management in a VR shopping environment, it is necessary to implement an environment in which consumers are immersed and to track consumer behavior during the experience. Through this, it is possible to create a core management strategy that creates a competitive advantage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Transformation and Sustainable Supply Chain Management)

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21 pages, 1250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Digital Transformation on the Pharmaceutical Sustainable Supply Chain Performance: The Mediating Role of Information Sharing and Traceability Using Structural Equation Modeling

by Jing-Yan Ma, Lei Shi and Tae-Won Kang

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 649; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010649 - 30 Dec 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 9609

Abstract

As the global pharmaceutical market continues to expand, the demand for pharmaceutical supply chain is increasing. In the context of “Industry 4.0”, the pharmaceutical supply chain sector needs to accelerate digital construction. Pharmaceutical companies need to strengthen risk management in order to cope with supply disruptions. From the perspective of sustainable development, the pharmaceutical supply chain can achieve sustainable supply performance in social, economic and environmental dimensions through digital transformation. There is a lack of research on digital transformation of pharmaceutical supply chain management. Further research is needed on what specific digital management pharmaceutical companies need to enhance to improve supply performance. This study uses empirical analysis to examine the impact of digital transformation on sustainable supply chain performance and to explore the role of information sharing and traceability as mediators. The aim is to guide the pharmaceutical supply chain to clearly manage the development of digital transformation and obtain sustainable supply performance. This study presents hypotheses based on cutting-edge theoretical findings. In total, 298 Chinese pharmaceutical company supply chain managers were surveyed and Structural equation analysis was conducted using SPSS26.0 and AMOS24.0. The results show that digital transformation significantly and positively impacts sustainable supply chain performance. Traceability plays a mediating role. The mediating role of information sharing is not significant. However, information sharing and traceability as two separate trends can have synergistic effects that together affect sustainable supply performance. The conclusion is that the pharmaceutical supply chain should accelerate digital construction, eliminate the uneven development of digital technology among supply chain members, and reduce the impact of technological uncertainty on performance. Companies are enhancing supply chain security management through information sharing and traceability systems, and are continuously focusing on the role of digital transformation as a driver for sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Transformation and Sustainable Supply Chain Management)

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18 pages, 1409 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Technologies of Traceability and Transparency in Supply Chains

by Muhammad Khan, Gohar Saleem Parvaiz, Alisher Tohirovich Dedahanov, Odiljon Sobirovich Abdurazzakov and Dilshodjon Alidjonovich Rakhmonov

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16336; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416336 - 7 Dec 2022

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 10404

Abstract

The key purpose of the article is to analyze the effect of digital transformations, such as blockchain technology (BCT), the social internet of things (SIoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, on the supply chain (SC) for traceability and for creating transparency. The partial least squares (PSL) structural equation modeling (SEM) method was applied in combination with SmartPLS v3.3.6. The package was employed to obtain information through a survey of SC Pakistani professionals using the snowball sampling technique. Traceability plays a crucial role in enhancing transparency and ultimately the performance of SC through BCT, SIoT, and AI. Therefore, the study recommends starting the digital transformation of the SC because this is a complex process that involves a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. The study findings show the importance of technologies of traceability and transparency as an analytical multidisciplinary approach to enhance the SC sector, although with certain limitations this can be taken into account by stakeholders. This study will be useful for decision makers investing in technologies of traceability and transparency in the SC. The study raises the awareness of traceability and transparency in the SC process, and also reveals research gaps and provides opportunities for further research. Despite the prevalence of studies in supply-chain traceability (SCT) and transparency, there is a dearth of empirical proof on how the digital transformation of the SC could lead to transparency and ultimately performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Transformation and Sustainable Supply Chain Management)

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16 pages, 261 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Moderating Effects of Eco-Friendliness between Logistics Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction in Cross-Border e-Commerce: Evidence from Overseas Direct Purchasers in Korea

by Ka-Young Oh, So-Young Kang and Yu-Gyeom Oh

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 15084; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215084 - 14 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3961

Abstract

The present study attempted to investigate whether the logistics service quality influences customer status and intention to reuse in the context of cross-border e-commerce. In addition, we explored whether the eco-friendly logistics service plays a moderating role in each quality variable during the logistics service process. By classifying logistics service quality into delivery service quality, return logistics service, delivery stability, and delivery information service, we conducted a survey and obtained a total of 781 responses in Korea, a semi-developed country. The responses were statistically analyzed. Based on this analysis, we concluded that the logistics service quality positively influences customer satisfaction and intention to reuse in the context of overseas direct purchases. Among the dimensions of logistics service quality, the most significant factor was delivery stability. Second, delivery service quality, delivery stability, and delivery information service positively influence the intention to reuse in cross-border e-commerce. Third, the satisfaction of products and/or services of a cross-border e-commerce firm has a high impact on repurchase. Finally, we found that the eco-friendly logistics service positively moderates the relationship between return logistics and satisfaction and the relationship between delivery quality and customer satiation. We concluded this manuscript with a discussion of managerial implications and academic contributions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Transformation and Sustainable Supply Chain Management)

18 pages, 1638 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Government Intervention and Cap-and-Trade on Green Innovation in Supply Chains: A Social Welfare Perspective

by Changhong Li, Jialuo Wang and Yifan Shi

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7941; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137941 - 29 Jun 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3005

Abstract

This paper discusses the impact of government intervention (greenness threshold limit) and cap-and-trade policy on green investment, stakeholder profits and social welfare under different power structure scenarios in the green supply chain. First, a two-level green supply chain system is constructed: a manufacturer that produces green products and complies with cap-and-trade policies and a retailer that sells green products. Based on the Stackelberg game and Cournot game, we compare the optimal solutions under the government intervention mechanism and cap-and-trade mechanism with manufacturer leadership, retailer leadership and equal power. The results are as follows: (1) both government intervention and the cap-and-trade mechanism are conducive to an increase in green technology innovation and profit, but excessive control will lead to a decline in social welfare. (2) The results in the concentrated scenario were better than those in the dispersed scenario. In the decentralized state, the result of equal power is the best, the result of retailer leadership is next, and the result of manufacturer leadership is the worst. (3) The lower cost of green investment will cause enterprises to give up purchasing carbon emission permits from the carbon market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Transformation and Sustainable Supply Chain Management)

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