Big data analytics in supply chain decarbonisation: a systematic literature review and future research directions

AbstractSupply chain decarbonisation has become a strategic requirement in the era of a net-zero economy. Despite the significant role of Big Data Analytics (BDA) in decarbonising the supply chain (SC), no prior study has evaluated it systematically. The present study aims to provide a systematic literature review on the applications and outcomes of big data analytics in SC decarbonisation. A total of 69 papers on applying BDA technology for supply chain decarbonisation published between 2016 and 2021 have been selected following the PRISMA protocol. The findings show that the topic is evolving. Studies employed methods such as surveys (30), case studies (11), and conceptual research designs (8). Thematic analysis reveals that 65% of the studies are grounded in resource-advantage theories, organisational theories, and system theories. Studies from India and China (35%) dominate the topic, while most studies have been conducted on the food and manufacturing industries. Further, this study applied the Antecedent-Decision-Outcomes (ADO) framework in BDA-based SC decarbonisation. Antecedents include BDA resources and capabilities, workforce skills, and supplier capabilities. Decisions refer to improving decision-making across the supply chain. Outcomes refer to improving decarbonisation, sustainable growth, and sustainable innovativeness. Future research directions and questions are provided using the Theory-Context-Methodology (TCM) framework.KEYWORDS: Big data analyticssupply chainsdecarbonisationsystematic literature reviewantecedent-decision-outcomesnet zero economy Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Data availability statementData related with this paper is available with authors and will be available whenever required.Additional informationNotes on contributorsDevinder KumarDevinder Kumar is currently pursuing a fellowship programme in the Operations Management area at Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon, India. He holds M.Sc. in Military Electronic Systems Engineering (MESE) from Cranfield University, Shrivenham, UK, and a B. Tech. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Kurukshetra, Haryana, India. He has 22 + years of technical and managerial experience in the telecommunication research and defence production field. His major interests are in the areas of managing supply chains flexibility, logistics, warehouse management, lean manufacturing, along with the applications of Industry 4.0 technologies for enhancing manufacturing competitiveness and sustainability. He has publications in journals such as Computers & Industrial Engineering, and International Journal of Performance and Productivity Management. He is also serving as reviewer for journals as Flexible systems and manufacturing, and International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness, in the field of operations and supply chain management.Rajesh Kr SinghRajesh Kr Singh is Professor in Operations Management Area at Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon, India. His areas of interest include Supply chain management, Industry 4.0 and Circular Economy. Currently he is serving as Associate Editor to International Journal of Consumer Studies (ABDC – ‘A’ category journal, Wiley publication), International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness (Springer publication) and Area Editor, Operations Management Research. He is also in Editorial Board of Journal of Supply Chain Management Systems, Journal of Asia Business Studies (Emerald) and Vision - The Journal of Business Perspective (Sage Publication). For past three years, he has also figured among the top 2% researchers in the world as per study done by Stanford University scientists in 2020. He has also worked as Guest Editor for special issues of Resources, Conservation and Recycling (IF = 10.08), Sustainable Production and Consumption, Competitiveness Review, Journal of Modelling in Management, Administrative Sciences, Global Journal of Operations and Strategic Sourcing, etc. He has published papers in highly reputed and impactful journals such as Journal of Business Research, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Journal of Cleaner Production, Production Planning and Control, Annals of Operations Research, International Journal of Production Research, Applied Soft Computing, Industrial Management and Data Systems, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. Business Strategy and the Environment, Journal of Enterprise Information Management, Computers and Industrial Engineering, etc.Ruchi MishraRuchi Mishra is an Assistant Professor in Production Operations Management & QT area at Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), India. She holds her Fellow (Ph.D.) from National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai, India. She has published papers in journals such as Computer & Industrial Engineering, Annal of Operations Research, International Journal of Logistics Management, Journal of Cleaner Production, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, International Journal of Consumer Studies, Journal of Enterprise Information Management, and International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management. Her major interests are in the areas of Digitalisation, Green Supply Chain Management and Supply Chain Aspects of Omnichannel Retailing.Ilias VlachosIlias P. Vlachos is Professor in Supply Chain Management at Excelia Business School, France. Prof. Vlachos has over 20 years in academia and holds a Ph.D. from Cranfield University, UK where he studied with full scholarship from Greek government. Ilias has extensive experience working with top UK and global universities, including Leeds University Business School and Newcastle Business School. Prof. Vlachos serves academia as a reviewer, external examiner, and guest editor. Prof. Vlachos has published over 120 articles including 3* and 4* ABS-listed journals. His latest articles appeared in Supply Chain Management: an International Journal, Journal of Cleaner Production, International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, Production Planning & Control: The Management of Operations, Expert Systems with Applications, Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, and Tourism Management, and Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment. Ilias has led various research projects funded by EU and he is currently a member of European Technology Platform ‘Food for Life’.