1 Application of AR and VR for supply chain: a macro perspective approach

Post COVID-19, the attention of global manufacturers has suddenly shifted towards supply chain networks to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness. This has necessitated redesigning and incorporating novel viewpoints into service and production processes. Manufacturing has undergone a new industrial shift with the introduction of Industry 4.0, which uses cutting-edge technologies to enhance all aspects of operations and the supply chain. Virtual reality (VR) permits customers to interrelate with and immerse themselves in a computer-generated situation, recreate the actual world, or create an unreal world. Augmented reality (AR) technology is any method that instantly inserts virtual objects, information, or elements into the real world. There are many ways that AR and VR can be used in the supply chain. AR applications could help companies increase the productivity and performance as regards their operations, such as planning of the facility, transportation, order management, maintenance activity, and last but not least, last-mile delivery. On the contrary, the application of VR could help organizations manage freight operations, layout planning of production units, warehousing, management of workforce, and managing deliveries of the last mile. The goal of this paper is to investigate the existing literature, available data, and concepts to provide future research directions to help academicians and managers systematically understand the various applications and growth of AR and VR, in managing the supply chain.