IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i6p2453-d1609861.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

SustAI-SCM: Intelligent Supply Chain Process Automation with Agentic AI for Sustainability and Cost Efficiency

Author

Listed:
  • Batin Latif Aylak

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, Turkish-German University, Sahinkaya Caddesi 106, Beykoz, Istanbul 34820, Turkey)

Abstract

Sustainable supply chain management (SCM) demands efficiency while minimizing environmental impact, yet conventional automation lacks adaptability. This paper presents SustAI-SCM, an AI-powered framework integrating agentic intelligence to automate supply chain tasks with sustainability in focus. Unlike static rule-based systems, it leverages a transformer model that continuously learns from operations, refining procurement, logistics, and inventory decisions. A diverse dataset comprising procurement records, logistics data, and carbon footprint metrics trains the model, enabling dynamic adjustments. The experimental results show a 28.4% cost reduction, 30.3% lower emissions, and 21.8% improved warehouse efficiency. While computational overhead and real-time adaptability pose challenges, future enhancements will focus on energy-efficient AI, continuous learning, and explainable decision making. The framework advances sustainable automation, balancing operational optimization with environmental responsibility.

Suggested Citation

  • Batin Latif Aylak, 2025. "SustAI-SCM: Intelligent Supply Chain Process Automation with Agentic AI for Sustainability and Cost Efficiency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-24, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:6:p:2453-:d:1609861
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/6/2453/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/6/2453/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wenwen Chen & Yangchongyi Men & Noelia Fuster & Celia Osorio & Angel A. Juan, 2024. "Artificial Intelligence in Logistics Optimization with Sustainable Criteria: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-22, October.
    2. Ilya Jackson & Dmitry Ivanov & Alexandre Dolgui & Jafar Namdar, 2024. "Generative artificial intelligence in supply chain and operations management: a capability-based framework for analysis and implementation," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 62(17), pages 6120-6145, September.
    3. Vikram Pasupuleti & Bharadwaj Thuraka & Chandra Shikhi Kodete & Saiteja Malisetty, 2024. "Enhancing Supply Chain Agility and Sustainability through Machine Learning: Optimization Techniques for Logistics and Inventory Management," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-16, July.
    4. Alexandra Brintrup & Edward Kosasih & Philipp Schaffer & Ge Zheng & Guven Demirel & Bart L. MacCarthy, 2024. "Digital supply chain surveillance using artificial intelligence: definitions, opportunities and risks," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 62(13), pages 4674-4695, July.
    5. Nistor Andrei & Cezar Scarlat & Alexandra Ioanid, 2024. "Transforming E-Commerce Logistics: Sustainable Practices through Autonomous Maritime and Last-Mile Transportation Solutions," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-21, July.
    6. Plambeck, Erica L., 2012. "Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through operations and supply chain management," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(S1), pages 64-74.
    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. Davis-Sramek, Beth & Robinson, Jessica L. & Darby, Jessica L. & Thomas, Rodney W., 2020. "Exploring the differential roles of environmental and social sustainability in carrier selection decisions," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    2. Chan, Ying Tung & Zhao, Hong, 2023. "Optimal carbon tax rates in a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model with a supply chain," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    3. Juanjuan Qin & Liguo Ren & Liangjie Xia, 2017. "Carbon Emission Reduction and Pricing Strategies of Supply Chain under Various Demand Forecasting Scenarios," Asia-Pacific Journal of Operational Research (APJOR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 34(01), pages 1-27, February.
    4. Ji, Guojun & Gunasekaran, Angappa & Yang, Guangyong, 2014. "Constructing sustainable supply chain under double environmental medium regulations," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(PB), pages 211-219.
    5. Wen, Wen & Zhou, P. & Zhang, Fuqiang, 2018. "Carbon emissions abatement: Emissions trading vs consumer awareness," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 34-47.
    6. Fernando, Yudi & Hor, Wei Lin, 2017. "Impacts of energy management practices on energy efficiency and carbon emissions reduction: A survey of malaysian manufacturing firms," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 62-73.
    7. Vishal V. Agrawal & Atalay Atasu & Luk N. Van Wassenhove, 2019. "OM Forum—New Opportunities for Operations Management Research in Sustainability," Service Science, INFORMS, vol. 21(1), pages 1-12, January.
    8. Ren, Xiaohang & Xiao, Ya & Xiao, Shitong & Jin, Yi & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad, 2024. "The effect of climate vulnerability on global carbon emissions: Evidence from a spatial convergence perspective," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    9. Théophile Anquetin & Guillaume Coqueret & Bertrand Tavin & Lou Welgryn, 2022. "Scopes of carbon emissions and their impact on green portfolios," Post-Print hal-04144612, HAL.
    10. Berling, Peter & Eng-Larsson, Fredrik, 2017. "Environmental implications of transport contract choice - capacity investment and pricing under volume and capacity contracts," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 261(1), pages 129-142.
    11. Liangjie Xia & Tingting Guo & Juanjuan Qin & Xiaohang Yue & Ning Zhu, 2018. "Carbon emission reduction and pricing policies of a supply chain considering reciprocal preferences in cap-and-trade system," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 268(1), pages 149-175, September.
    12. Singh, Gaurvendra & Rajesh, R. & Misra, Subhas Chandra & Singh, Shubhendu, 2024. "Analyzing the role of digital twins in developing a resilient sustainable manufacturing supply chain: A grey influence analysis (GINA) approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    13. David F. Drake & Stefan Spinler, 2013. "OM Forum —Sustainable Operations Management: An Enduring Stream or a Passing Fancy?," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 15(4), pages 689-700, October.
    14. Liangjie Xia & Yongwan Bai & Sanjoy Ghose & Juanjuan Qin, 2022. "Differential game analysis of carbon emissions reduction and promotion in a sustainable supply chain considering social preferences," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 310(1), pages 257-292, March.
    15. Islam, Md. Monirul & Irfan, Muhammad & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Vo, Xuan Vinh, 2022. "Renewable and non-renewable energy consumption in Bangladesh: The relative influencing profiles of economic factors, urbanization, physical infrastructure and institutional quality," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 1130-1149.
    16. Peng Liu & Ying Chen, 2022. "Differential Game Model of Shared Manufacturing Supply Chain Considering Low-Carbon Emission Reduction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-24, September.
    17. Chen, Xi, 2018. "When does store consolidation lead to higher emissions?," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 109-122.
    18. Chien-Ming Chen, 2017. "Supply Chain Strategies and Carbon Intensity: The Roles of Process Leanness, Diversification Strategy, and Outsourcing," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 143(3), pages 603-620, July.
    19. Kannan Govindan & R. Sivakumar, 2016. "Green supplier selection and order allocation in a low-carbon paper industry: integrated multi-criteria heterogeneous decision-making and multi-objective linear programming approaches," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 238(1), pages 243-276, March.
    20. Aylin Erdoğdu & Faruk Dayi & Ferah Yildiz & Ahmet Yanik & Farshad Ganji, 2025. "Combining Fuzzy Logic and Genetic Algorithms to Optimize Cost, Time and Quality in Modern Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-41, March.

    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:17:y:2025:i:6:p:2453-:d:1609861. 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.