Understanding the Role of Digital Technologies in Supply Chain Risks Management

Abstract

Supply chain risks have been regarded as one of the most significant threats to business continuity. Digital technology is considered to reform human production and manufacturing methods. In the recent wake of COVID-19, disruptive digital technologies have emerged as a key tool to manage supply chain risks. Therefore, exploring the impact of digital technology on supply chain risks is considered an important topic in the supply chain management domain. The paper reviews different digital technologies such as 3D printing, IoT, Blockchains, RFID and Big Data Analytics used in supply chains. This exploratory study is based on a survey response from 176 supply chain professionals in China. The findings show the role of digital technologies in managing supply chain risks. The study highlights the current level of implementation of digital technologies in supply chain functions and emphasizes the importance of training. Moreover, the study underlines the significance of supply chain data analysis capabilities for supply chain risk management. The study adds to the limited literature exploring the importance of digital technologies in supply chain risk management.