Critical success factors influencing artificial intelligence adoption in food supply chains

The adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the food supply chains (FSC) can address unique challenges of food safety, quality and wastage by improving transparency and traceability. However, the technology adoption literature in FSC is still the in infancy stage, meaning little is known about the critical success factors (CSFs) that could affect the adoption of AI in FSC. Therefore, this study makes a pioneering attempt by examining the CSFs influencing the adoption of AI in the Food Supply Chain (FSC). A conceptual framework based on TOEH (Technology–Organisation–Environment–Human) theory is used to determine the CSFs influencing AI adoption in the context of Indian FSC. The rough-SWARA technique was used to rank and prioritise the CSFs for AI adoption using the relative importance weights. The results of the study indicate that technology readiness, security, privacy, customer satisfaction, perceived benefits, demand volatility, regulatory compliance, competitor pressure and information sharing among partners are the most significant CSFs for adopting AI in FSC. The findings of the study would be useful for AI technology providers, supply chain specialists and government agencies in framing appropriate policies to foster the adoption of AI in FSC the sector.