supply chain management
Allahyar Beigi Firoozi; Mohammad Bashokouh Ajirlou; Naser Seffollahi; Ghasem Zarei
Abstract
The current study aimed to cluster the application of digital technologies from Industry 4.0 in the agricultural food distribution network. To achieve this goal, a bibliometric technique was employed to identify prominent trends and themes in this field through the analysis of articles, authors, countries, ...
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The current study aimed to cluster the application of digital technologies from Industry 4.0 in the agricultural food distribution network. To achieve this goal, a bibliometric technique was employed to identify prominent trends and themes in this field through the analysis of articles, authors, countries, and co-citations of authors and bibliographic pairs. Through an extensive search in the Scopus scientific database, bibliographic information for 331 valid and relevant scientific articles was acquired. This information was inputted into the bibliometric package in R software, and the most influential journal, author, university, country, and most cited authors were determined. To visualize the information, Vosviewer software was utilized for co-citation analysis of authors, cited references, and bibliographic pairs. The findings from the network analysis revealed that the studies on the application of digital technologies in the agricultural food distribution network can be categorized into five main clusters.IntroductionIndustry 4.0, viewed as a new industrial stage, has introduced complex information and communication technologies that facilitate comprehensive connections across different parts of the supply chain. The digital technologies associated with Industry 4.0 allow production lines, business processes, and teams within a supply chain to collaborate seamlessly, irrespective of location, time zone, network constraints, or any other factors. Researchers highlight that the advent of digital technologies from the fourth industrial revolution, including radio frequency identification, big data, cloud computing, smart sensors, machine learning, robotics, augmented production, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, the Internet of Things, blockchain, and similar technologies, holds immense potential for significantly enhancing production productivity. These technologies could lead to substantial innovation, competitive growth, and may contribute to improving the sustainability of the current industrial system. To meet the escalating demand for food, agricultural marketing professionals and managers globally must maximize the efficiency of the agricultural distribution network, given the widespread adoption of digital technologies. The increasing significance of this goal has prompted marketing researchers to explore the use of digital technologies in the agricultural food distribution network, leading to a substantial number of studies in this research field since 2011. In this context, the present study aimed to cluster the utilization of digital technologies in Industry 4.0 within the agricultural food distribution network. A bibliometric study was conducted to identify existing gaps in research and propose future directions. The research focuses on the application of digital technologies in the distribution network.Aligned with the research objective, fundamental questions are posed: Which publications, authors, and countries are most influential in the application of Industry 4.0 digital technologies in the agricultural food distribution network? Additionally, what scientific clusters exist in this domain?MethodologyThe objective of the current research is to conduct a bibliographic analysis of studies related to the application of digital technologies in Industry 4.0 within the agricultural food distribution network. Utilizing bibliometric techniques, a crucial measure for evaluating scientific output, a comprehensive examination of scientific literature was carried out concerning the application of digital technologies in Industry 4.0 within the agricultural food distribution network.The search was conducted within the Scopus scientific database, which encompasses a significant array of diverse journals and authoritative articles globally. The search covered three sections: title, abstract, and keywords, yielding a list of studies that exclusively included English-language articles from journals (excluding conference studies and book chapters) published between 2011 (the inception year of Industry 4.0) and 2023. By imposing these criteria, 352 original pieces of data containing bibliographic information were obtained. Subsequently, the title and abstract of each article were meticulously scrutinized to identify information relevant to the agricultural food distribution networks. Among these, 6 articles pertaining to the halal supply chain and 15 articles conducted as systematic reviews were excluded from the bibliographic information collection. The final portfolio for analysis consisted of bibliographic information from 331 articles, which was then entered into the bibliometric software package. This analysis was carried out using R software and VOSviewer software. The bibliometric software package facilitated quantitative bibliographic analysis, while the VOSviewer software was employed for visualizing and analyzing citation networks.ResultsThe quantitative findings indicate a significant increase in studies related to the adoption of digital technologies in the agricultural food distribution network, particularly after 2017. The most widely utilized digital technologies in the food distribution network include blockchain, the Internet of Things, simulation, artificial intelligence, big data, machine learning, 3D printers, sensors, and digital twins.Through the analysis of bibliographic pairs, five primary clusters were identified concerning the application of digital technologies in the agricultural food distribution network. These clusters are associated with the use of digital technologies in ensuring food quality, enhancing distribution network flexibility, establishing modular architecture within the distribution network, implementing intelligent logistics systems, and promoting sustainable distribution networks.ConclusionBased on the themes of the clusters identified in Table 7, it can be concluded that the Internet of Things and blockchain play crucial roles in real-time tracking, tracing, and monitoring of food throughout the supply chain, thereby reducing wastage. RFID technologies and digital twins are highly effective in ensuring food safety and facilitating delivery to consumers, especially in the face of environmental changes and crises such as epidemics. Another application of digital technologies lies in the modular architecture of the food distribution network. Through the use of modular architecture, various technologies can modularize tasks and extensive operations within the food distribution network. Ultimately, all these components can be centralized under blockchain technology, with diverse data stored in a vast cloud space. Consistent implementation of digital technologies in the food distribution network has the potential to establish regional warehouses, resulting in reduced distribution and delivery costs, enhanced food safety and sustainability, and the possibility of customizing food for end consumers. This, in turn, will contribute to the stability of the food network.
