Transformative supply chains: the enabling role of digital technologies

Abstract

To remain competitive in turbulent business environments and address increasing regulatory pressures, modern supply chains should undertake transformations towards circularity and resilience. Despite the relevance of the topic, how enabling transformative changes as those increasingly observed in reality is a topic still not fully understood. We fill this research gap by developing a novel social-ecological model of the supply chain that investigates the enabling role of digital technologies in supply chain transformations. The model first offers a conceptualization of transformative supply chains as social-ecological systems capable of transforming towards new configurations, more consistent with internal pressures and external challenges, through the supply chain transformative capabilities. Then, how digital technologies influence these dynamic capabilities is argued. The conceptual model is investigated through a multiple case study approach in Made-in Italy sectors. We analyze eight case studies involving large, medium, and small companies, which confirm theoretical argumentations. Specific propositions linking the digital technologies with supply chain transformative capabilities are finally formulated, and theoretical and managerial implications discussed.