Modelling Internet of things (IoT)-driven global sustainability in multi-tier agri-food supply chain under natural epidemic outbreaks

Abstract

Epidemic outbreak (COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2) is an exceptional scenario of agri-food supply chain (AFSC) risk at the globalised level which is characterised by logistics' network breakdown (ripple effects), demand mismatch (uncertainty), and sustainable issues. Thus, the aim of this research is the modelling of the sustainable based multi-tier system for AFSC, which is managed through the different emerging application of Internet of things (IoT) technology. Different IoT technologies, viz., Blockchain, robotics, Big data analysis, and cloud computing, have developed a competitive AFSC at the global level. Competitive AFSC needs cautious incorporation of multi-tiers suppliers, specifically during dealing with globalised sustainability issues. Firms have been advancing towards their multi suppliers for driving social, environments and economical practices. This paper also studies the interrelationship of 14 enablers and their cause and effect magnitude as contributing to IoT-based food secure model. The methodology used in the paper is interpretative structural modelling (ISM) for establishing interrelationship among the enablers and Fuzzy-Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (F-DEMATEL) to provide the magnitude of the cause-effect strength of the hierarchical framework. This paper also provides some theoretical contribution supported by information processing theory (IPT) and dynamic capability theory (DCT). This paper may guide the organisation's managers in their strategic planning based on enabler's classification into cause and effect groups. This paper may also encourage the mangers for implementing IoT technologies in AFSC.

On Deploying Blockchain Technologies in Supply Chain Strategies and the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review and Research Outlook

“…Examining the relation between BCT and various industries may aid in understanding the significance of these technologies, particularly in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. According to our findings, the food and agricultural sector has the most commonly utilized BCT, with 19 articles addressing COVID-19 conditions [5,56,57,66,71,79,82,83,85,87,89,94,100,101,103,106,109,110,114]. With 12 research papers since the outbreak, the healthcare industry has made a significant contribution to the reviewed articles.…”

“…While transparency technology has received little attention in prior research, and only one study has addressed this issue [99], the combination of visibility and transparency has been the subject of nine studies in the literature that was reviewed [98,[100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107]. Six studies examined the implementation of digitalization, visibility and transparency technologies in SC and the critical circumstances of COVID-19 [18,22,[108][109][110][111]. Smart-contact technology, on the other hand, is one of the areas of BC technology that has received some slight attention in the literature, resulting in only two studies [21,112].…”

“…Four of the articles covered more than one issue. One looked into waste and economic issues [89], another focused on economic and social subjects [76], and two investigated waste, environmental, and economic issues [109,110]. Table 6 demonstrates the results of the review articles discussing sustainability issues.…”

“…Yadav et al [110] Explored the usage of BCT and IoT for developing the sustainability of agricultural-food SC under epidemic outbreaks such as COVID-19. This paper guides the organization's managers in their strategic planning based on digitalization enablers.…”

The implications of Industry 4.0 on supply chains amid the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review

“…1,4 These technologies play a significant role in optimizing the performance of supply chain operations for better results. 6 Many academics believe that Industry 4.0 technologies, such as the Internet of Things, 5,9,37 big data, 14,15,21,38 cloud computing, 22,23 additive manufacturing, 48,60 and blockchain, 17,19,20 can encourage supply chains in times of crisis, and they call for more research in this area. 43,45,69 Previous studies on epidemics did not address the employment of emerging technologies in the recovery process 61 as well as the impact on commercial supply chains.…”