Forest Supply Chains During Digitalization: Current Implementations and Prospects in Near Future

Abstract

Purpose of ReviewThe forest industry has deployed systems of information and communication technology to improve the productivity of forest supply chains. In this sense, the digitalization of data flows significantly impacts wood supply chains, from forest to mills, which must react flexibly to market fluctuations of forest products. The goal of this study was to conduct a literature review on data flow implementations in management systems of wood supply chains and to evaluate their applicability in supply chains to analyze the opportunities for improving them in practice.Recent FindingsWe utilized the ScienceDirect database, Scopus, and Web of Science in order to document data flows in systems and actual applications. Due to ongoing outsourcing, the wood procurement chains and the wood supply chains were identified in the forest industry. In addition to industrial wood data, several different data collection technologies can be implemented in wood supply chains to digitalize the forest data depending on the specific needs of organizations. In this regard, the digitalization of big data causes significant changes in available data elements of practical operations that are integrated and standardized in the optimization and simulation systems.SummaryA modeling guide is suggested for accurate dynamic solution of problems of forest logistics. Then, the opportunities in digitalization for connecting different data flows, technologies, and stakeholders are discussed thoroughly. We conclude that data-driven dynamic optimization and locally implemented digitalization contribute to wood supply modeling in the ongoing establishment of standards for cloud-based platforms because modeling time-related and sequential measures will ensure successful forest logistics through planning and monitoring wood supply chains.