Enhancing Circular Supply Chain Performance in Platform‐Based Economies: The Role of AI , Blockchain Integration, and the IoT in Promoting Transparency

ABSTRACT This research empirically determines the synergetic roles of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Block Chain Integration (BCI) and Internet of Things (IoT) in enhancing supply chain transparency (SCT) and circular supply chain performance (CSCP), with an integration of reverse logistics efficiency (RLE) as a moderator, within the context of China's platform‐based economies. Focusing on two emerging circular sectors, urban mobility services and consumer electronics rental and refurbishment, this research employs a rigorous cross‐sectional quantitative research design to collect data from 800 industry professionals 400 from each sector using a structured questionnaire with validated multi‐item Likert scales adapted from established literature. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS‐SEM) and multi‐group analysis (MGA) were applied via Smart‐PLS to examine direct, mediating, moderating, and moderated mediation effects. The outcomes reveal that BCI, AI and IoT significantly impact SCT, which positively affects CSCP, with RLE significantly moderating the impact of the analysis that reveals novel contextual variations: RLE and BCI are more impactful in urban mobility services, reflecting the reliance of the sector on securing data‐sharing for shared assets, while IoT puts a stronger direct effect on CSCP in consumer electronics, driven by real‐time product lifecycle tracking. The moderated mediation effects are more pronounced in the urban mobility sector, highlighting the contextual dependency of digital circular capabilities. The managers are being advised to adopt sector‐specific digital strategies, focusing on BCI in mobility and IoT in electronics and investing in reverse logistics as a strategic asset. The outcomes provide a groundbreaking perspective on leveraging digital technologies for sustainable supply chain transformation in platform‐based economics.