IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i16p6778-d1451893.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Enhancing Sustainable Supply Chain Management through Digital Transformation: A Comparative Case Study Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Asterios Stroumpoulis

    (Department of Business Administration, University of Piraeus, 18534 Piraeus, Greece)

  • Evangelia Kopanaki

    (Department of Business Administration, University of Piraeus, 18534 Piraeus, Greece)

  • Panos T. Chountalas

    (Department of Business Administration, University of Piraeus, 18534 Piraeus, Greece)

Abstract

This study investigates the critical role of information systems and digital transformation in advancing sustainable supply chain management. Companies are increasingly adopting sustainable policies to protect the environment, enhance societal wellbeing, and drive economic development. By digitalizing their processes, they achieve significant operational improvements and boost business performance. Information systems are now integral to supply chains, supporting diverse processes and facilitating excellence in digital transformation and sustainable development. However, research in this area has been limited, focusing primarily on the environmental pillar. This study aims to explore the relationship between supply chain digitalization and the adoption of comprehensive sustainability practices. The research employs a qualitative methodology, including a comparative case study analysis of a modern 3PL company, a retailer, and a producer of construction materials. The findings reveal that the strategic integration of digital transformation and sustainable policies within organizational contexts is vital for enhancing business performance and achieving operational excellence. Effective use of information systems and resources enables companies to amplify their economic, social, and environmental impact, fostering an environmentally friendly image, strengthening societal relationships, and increasing market share. This study underscores the importance of a holistic approach to sustainability, driven by information systems and Industry 4.0 technologies, positioning companies as leaders in sustainable supply chain management.

Suggested Citation

  • Asterios Stroumpoulis & Evangelia Kopanaki & Panos T. Chountalas, 2024. "Enhancing Sustainable Supply Chain Management through Digital Transformation: A Comparative Case Study Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-29, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:16:p:6778-:d:1451893
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/16/6778/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/16/6778/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pervin Ersoy & Gülmüş Börühan & Sachin Kumar Mangla & Jorge Hernandez Hormazabal & Yigit Kazancoglu & Çisem Lafcı, 2022. "Impact of information technology and knowledge sharing on circular food supply chains for green business growth," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 1875-1904, July.
    2. Basim S. O. Alsaedi & Osama Abdulaziz Alamri & Mahesh Kumar Jayaswal & Mandeep Mittal, 2023. "A Sustainable Green Supply Chain Model with Carbon Emissions for Defective Items under Learning in a Fuzzy Environment," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-36, January.
    3. Schoenherr, Tobias, 2023. "Supply chain management professionals’ proficiency in big data analytics: Antecedents and impact on performance," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    4. Agatz, Niels A.H. & Fleischmann, Moritz & van Nunen, Jo A.E.E., 2008. "E-fulfillment and multi-channel distribution - A review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 187(2), pages 339-356, June.
    5. Verhoef, Peter C. & Broekhuizen, Thijs & Bart, Yakov & Bhattacharya, Abhi & Qi Dong, John & Fabian, Nicolai & Haenlein, Michael, 2021. "Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 889-901.
    6. Anup Kumar & Santosh Kumar Shrivastav & Avinash K. Shrivastava & Rashmi Ranjan Panigrahi & Abbas Mardani & Fausto Cavallaro, 2023. "Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Performance Measurement, and Management: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-25, March.
    7. Graciela Chichilnisky, 1997. "What Is Sustainable Development?," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 73(4), pages 467-491.
    8. Degraeve, Zeger & Labro, Eva & Roodhooft, Filip, 2000. "An evaluation of vendor selection models from a total cost of ownership perspective," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 125(1), pages 34-58, August.
    9. Wilson Kosasih & I Nyoman Pujawan & Putu Dana Karningsih, 2023. "Integrated Lean-Green Practices and Supply Chain Sustainability for Manufacturing SMEs: A Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-28, August.
    10. repec:eme:aaaj00:aaaj-07-2015-2139 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Sabine Weiland & Thomas Hickmann & Markus Lederer & Jens Marquardt & Sandra Schwindenhammer, 2021. "The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Transformative Change through the Sustainable Development Goals?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(1), pages 90-95.
    12. Jan Anton van Zanten & Rob van Tulder, 2018. "Multinational enterprises and the Sustainable Development Goals: An institutional approach to corporate engagement," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 1(3), pages 208-233, December.
    13. Mani, Venkatesh & Gunasekaran, Angappa & Delgado, Catarina, 2018. "Supply chain social sustainability: Standard adoption practices in Portuguese manufacturing firms," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 149-164.
    14. Spyridon A. Bafas & Alexandra P. Alexandropoulou & Andreas E. Fousteris & Eleni A. Didaskalou & Dimitrios A. Georgakellos, 2023. "Sustainable Development and Business Strategies: An Exploratory Study of Greek Businesses," Businesses, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-19, August.
    15. Ipek Kazancoglu & Muhittin Sagnak & Sachin Kumar Mangla & Yigit Kazancoglu, 2021. "Circular economy and the policy: A framework for improving the corporate environmental management in supply chains," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 590-608, January.
    16. Khaldoon Al-Htaybat & Larissa von Alberti-Alhtaybat, 2017. "Big Data and corporate reporting: impacts and paradoxes," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 30(4), pages 850-873, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Asterios Stroumpoulis & Evangelia Kopanaki, 2022. "Theoretical Perspectives on Sustainable Supply Chain Management and Digital Transformation: A Literature Review and a Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-30, April.
    2. Il Park, Byung & Xiao, Shufeng (Simon), 2021. "Doing good by combating bad in the digital world: Institutional pressures, anti-corruption practices, and competitive implications of MNE foreign subsidiaries," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 194-205.
    3. Maryam Soleimani & Elahe Mollaei & Mojgan Hamidi Beinabaj & Aidin Salamzadeh, 2023. "Evaluating the Enablers of Green Entrepreneurship in Circular Economy: Organizational Enablers in Focus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-22, July.
    4. Nathanael Betti & Steven DeSimone & Joy Gray, 2022. "The impacts of the use of data analytics and the performance of consulting activities on perceived internal audit quality," Working Papers 2202, College of the Holy Cross, Department of Economics.
    5. Harshad Sonar & Nikhil Ghag & Yashomandira Kharde & Shriya Ghosh, 2023. "Analysis of barriers affecting circular economy adoption in food supply chain: A strategic perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 5273-5288, December.
    6. Mohammed T. Abusharbeh, 2024. "Technology-Profitability Paradox in Banking Sector: Evidence from Palestine," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(3), pages 14855-14873, September.
    7. Irene Bertschek & Joern Block & Alexander S. Kritikos & Caroline Stiel, 2024. "German financial state aid during Covid-19 pandemic: Higher impact among digitalized self-employed," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(1-2), pages 76-97, January.
    8. German Arana‐Landin & Waleska Sigüenza & Beñat Landeta‐Manzano & Iker Laskurain‐Iturbe, 2024. "Circular economy: On the road to ISO 59000 family of standards," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 1977-2009, May.
    9. Rekha Rao-Nicholson & Htwe Htwe Thein & Yifan Zhong, 2024. "A thematic analysis of the links between multinational enterprises’ corporate social responsibility and the Sustainable Development Goals in Myanmar," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(2), pages 203-223, June.
    10. Yang Deng & Tze San Ong & Rosmila Senik, 2024. "Trick or treat? A bibliometric literature review of corporate social responsibility and earnings management," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4361-4383, September.
    11. Yuanyuan Lou & Ahreum Hong & Yannan Li, 2024. "Assessing the Role of HRM and HRD in Enhancing Sustainable Job Performance and Innovative Work Behaviors through Digital Transformation in ICT Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-18, June.
    12. Yücel, Eda & Karaesmen, Fikri & Salman, F. Sibel & Türkay, Metin, 2009. "Optimizing product assortment under customer-driven demand substitution," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 199(3), pages 759-768, December.
    13. Dominik M. Wielgos & Christian Homburg & Christina Kuehnl, 2021. "Digital business capability: its impact on firm and customer performance," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 49(4), pages 762-789, July.
    14. Schneider, Christian O. & Bremen, Philipp & Schönsleben, Paul & Alard, Robert, 2013. "Transaction cost economics in global sourcing: Assessing regional differences and implications for performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(1), pages 243-254.
    15. Jinqiu He & Huiwen Su, 2022. "Digital Transformation and Green Innovation of Chinese Firms: The Moderating Role of Regulatory Pressure and International Opportunities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-21, October.
    16. Alkaraan, Fadi & Elmarzouky, Mahmoud & Hussainey, Khaled & Venkatesh, V.G., 2023. "Sustainable strategic investment decision-making practices in UK companies: The influence of governance mechanisms on synergy between industry 4.0 and circular economy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    17. Rizvi, Syed Kumail Abbas & Rahat, Birjees & Naqvi, Bushra & Umar, Muhammad, 2024. "Revolutionizing finance: The synergy of fintech, digital adoption, and innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    18. Frédéric Gannon & Florence Legros & Vincent Touzé, 2020. "Sustainability of pension schemes. Building a smooth automatic balance mechanism with an application to the us social security," Revue de l'OFCE, Presses de Sciences-Po, vol. 0(6), pages 377-401.
    19. Kumar, V. & Sunder, Sarang & Sharma, Amalesh, 2015. "Leveraging Distribution to Maximize Firm Performance in Emerging Markets," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 91(4), pages 627-643.
    20. Defrancesco, Edi & Gatto, Paola & Rosato, Paolo, 2014. "A ‘component-based’ approach to discounting for natural resource damage assessment," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 1-9.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:16:p:6778-:d:1451893. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.