How is supply chain 4.0 tackling the supply chain challenges in the retail sector?

Abstract

Purpose – Due to the competitive nature of the market, the last couple of decades have witnessed several retailers struggle to meet up with their supply chain responsibilities. But with the increasing advancement of technologies, a breakthrough has emanated through the emergence of Supply Chain 4.0. This involves the adoption of the Internet of Things, the use of big data, advanced analytics and the application of advanced robotics in supply chain management. This paper provides an overview of how digital supply chain 4.0 can be used to tackle the traditional supply chain management challenges in the retail sector. Design/methodology/approach – The approach adopts the form of a literature review on the core concepts of supply chain management, its challenges and supply chain 4.0. Findings – To tackle the challenges of the supply chain, retailers are encouraged to focus on shifting from the traditional supply chain approach to a more digital-based approach of Supply Chain 4.0. Research limitations – The scope of this paper is restricted to a cross-section of the literature related to this topic. Therefore, it does not comprehensively cover the literature, but a selection of some related works. Originality/value – This study reviews a sample of the existing and latest literature in the area of supply chain management. This presents a meaningful basis for practical guidance for the management of the retailing companies.