Digital Supply Chain Transformation: Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Growth

Digital and communication technologies, from cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoTs), big data and analytics, to artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and blockchain, are having a profound impact on individuals, organisations and society. The devastation caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the fact that digital transformation is no longer an option but a survival necessity. In the supply chain field, technology developments require companies to rethink the way they design and manage their supply chains, in order to cope with ever-growing customer expectations and to remain competitive in the marketplace. Meanwhile mega-trends and geo-political uncertainties such as Brexit, US-China trade wars and climate change have increased the pressure for supply chains to become more agile, resilient and sustainable.

This edited book aims to provide readers with deep insights into how those emerging digital technologies, if deployed effectively, will allow organisations to reach the next level of operational effectiveness, and leverage emerging digital supply chain business models to transform their traditional supply chain into a sustainable digital supply chain ecosystem.

The book brings together contributions from world-leading experts in supply chain digitalisation from both academia and industry, analysing cutting-edge developments observed in industries and drawing insights from the latest research in the field, such as EU Horizon 2020 project research. The contributors deliberately shy away from more established technological developments such as supply chain planning and execution systems, cloud computing and electronic platforms/networks. They focus entirely on the latest emerging digitalisation developments instead, bringing readers up to date so that they can appreciate how these are disrupting and will disrupt the status quo of supply chains.

The target audiences include academics, students (undergraduates and postgraduates) and practitioners that are interested in supply chain digitalisation and transformation.

Yingli Wang is a professor in logistics and operations management at Cardiff University, UK. She was awarded her PhD in logistics and operations management from Cardiff University in 2008. She has worked with many organizations including shippers, logistics service providers and IT service providers in the fields of e-logistics and e-supply chain. Her research on digitalisation in logistics and supply chain has attracted funding from various bodies including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), European Regional Development Funding (ERDF), Sweden Energy Agency, Welsh Government, Highways England and the Department for Transport (DfT). She has published in leading academic journals, and other recent publications include a report for Highways England on accelerating BIM adoption in the supply chain (2016), a foresight report for the Government Office for Science on the impact of emerging technologies on future mobility (2019), and a white paper on blockchain for supply chains for the World Economic Forum (WEF) (2019).

Stephen Pettit is a professor in the logistics and operations management section of Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, UK. He was awarded a PhD from the University of Wales in 1993. He has been involved in a number of transport-related research projects including for the DfT (the UK economy's requirements for people with seafaring experience), and EU DGTREN (the 'Economic Value of Shipping to the UK Economy'; an 'Analysis of the Cost Structure of the main TEN Ports'; and 'Work Organisation in Ports'). His recent work has considered issues around humanitarian aid logistics and supply chain management. Stephen has contributed to many journal papers, conference papers and reports primarily on port development, port policy, and humanitarian aid logistics and supply chain management.