Revolutionizing supply chain and circular economy with edge computing: systematic review, research themes and future directions

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine how the implementation of edge computing can enhance the progress of the circular economy within supply chains and to address the challenges and best practices associated with this emerging technology.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilized a streamlined evaluation technique that employed Latent Dirichlet Allocation modeling for thorough content analysis. Extensive searches were conducted among prominent publishers, including IEEE, Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, MDPI and Hindawi, utilizing pertinent keywords associated with edge computing, circular economy, sustainability and supply chain. The search process yielded a total of 103 articles, with the keywords being searched specifically within the titles or abstracts of these articles.FindingsThere has been a notable rise in the volume of scholarly articles dedicated to edge computing in the circular economy and supply chain management. After conducting a thorough examination of the published papers, three main research themes were identified, focused on technology, optimization and circular economy and sustainability. Edge computing adoption in supply chains results in a more responsive, efficient and agile supply chain, leading to enhanced decision-making capabilities and improved customer satisfaction. However, the adoption also poses challenges, such as data integration, security concerns, device management, connectivity and cost.Originality/valueThis paper offers valuable insights into the research trends of edge computing in the circular economy and supply chains, highlighting its significant role in optimizing supply chain operations and advancing the circular economy by processing and analyzing real time data generated by the internet of Things, sensors and other state-of-the-art tools and devices.

A Traceability Platform for Monitoring Environmental and Social Sustainability in the Textile and Clothing Value Chain: Towards a Digital Passport for Textiles and Clothing

“…Several works have highlighted the opportunity that digital transformation of supply chains offers for the advancement of the circular economy and the resolution of environ-mental challenges [13,14]. The lack of a traceability platform for the textile and clothing sector, assessing the environmental, economic and social impact of the textile and clothing items, is a research gap that hinders the ability of the final consumer to select a product with less negative impact, in environmental, economic or social terms, as well as the ability of any business partner, at any level of the value chain, to select its suppliers or batches of intermediate products/materials based on information about their respective environmental, economic or social impact.…”

AI-driven warehouse automation: A comprehensive review of systems

“…By processing data locally at the edge, warehouse systems can make real-time decisions based on up-to-date information from sensors, cameras, and other IoT devices (Akbari, 2023). AI algorithms running on edge computing devices can analyze sensor data, identify patterns, and trigger actions autonomously without waiting for instructions from centralized servers.…”

Green certification practices and process innovation alignment: diminishing point and catching up in nation's economic development

“…Research often debates to what extent the connection with the manufacturer's innovation process can genuinely facilitate the adaptation of the product/service being developed and enhance market success (Zimmerling et al ., 2016). Besides, competitive pressure and intelligence are more significant in pushing manufacturers to adopt eco-innovation (Akbari, 2023; Cai and Li, 2018). When manufacturers focus more strongly on deploying technological pollution prevention and aligning manufacturing processes, the literature observes lower customer rejection rates and improved efficiency (Ma et al ., 2017; Nguyen et al ., 2020a, b).…”