Yassin Selouani, Ikram El Hachimi, Driss Ouslimane
Le management de la chaîne logistique connaît aujourd'hui de profondes mutations, dans lesquelles la transformation digitale s'impose comme un levier essentiel pour améliorer la traçabilité, renforcer la résilience et accroître la compétitivité des organisations. Si cette évolution est largement documentée dans les économies développées, les connaissances restent encore limitées en Afrique, où les contextes infrastructurels, institutionnels et socio-économiques présentent des spécificités importantes. Cette étude propose une revue systématique de la littérature afin de dresser un état des lieux des recherches consacrées à la transformation digitale des chaînes logistiques sur le continent. En suivant le protocole PRISMA, une recherche menée dans sept sources de recherche documentaire a permis de retenir 56 études parmi 742 références initialement recensées. Les résultats montrent un champ de recherche encore émergent, principalement centré sur l'Afrique du Sud, le Nigeria, le Ghana et le Kenya, ainsi que sur les secteurs agricole et pharmaceutique. La blockchain et l'Internet des objets dominent les travaux, tandis que l'intelligence artificielle et le big data demeurent encore peu mobilisés. Malgré une accélération de l'adoption sous l'effet de la pression concurrentielle et de la COVID-19, des obstacles persistants, telles que l’insuffisance des infrastructures, les coûts élevés, le déficit de compétences et la faiblesse des cadres réglementaires, limitent les bénéfices attendus. Cette étude fournit ainsi une synthèse structurée en langue française d’un corpus principalement anglophone et met en évidence plusieurs pistes pour la recherche et les politiques de digitalisation des chaînes logistiques africaines.
Purpose This study aims to conduct a comprehensive scientometric review of social sustainability in supply chains, analyzing 970 articles published between 2002 and 2024 from Web of Science (WoS). The research addresses the critical gap in understanding social sustainability aspects compared to environmental dimensions in supply chain literature. Design/methodology/approach The study uses CiteSpace software to create structure-based visualizations and networks, analyzing prominent authors, documents, keywords, journals, countries and institutions in the field. The methodology involves systematic review and bibliometric analysis of the literature to identify key themes and patterns in social sustainability based supply chain research Findings The analysis reveals that research is predominantly concentrated in tier-1 and high-GDP nations. Key industries focusing on social sustainability include agriculture, food and beverage, transportation and logistics, manufacturing, fashion and retail sectors. These sectors primarily address issues such as labor regulations, fair wages and local community involvement and diversity. The study identifies major motor themes through co-citation and cluster analysis. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to articles indexed in WoS, potentially excluding relevant research from other databases. Future research directions should focus on advancing social supply chain management, integrating emerging technologies such as Blockchain, sensors and digital transformation, improving risk management, implementing fuzzy logic decision-making and enhancing transparency. Practical implications The findings provide organizations with insights into implementing social sustainability practices across supply chains. The study offers guidance for industry practitioners on addressing social challenges and integrating sustainable practices into their operations, particularly in areas of labor rights, community engagement and technological integration. Social implications The research highlights the importance of addressing social sustainability in global supply chains and its impact on local communities, labor conditions and societal well-being. It emphasizes the need for greater attention to social aspects of sustainability, particularly in developing nations and lower-tier supply chain partners. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study presents the first large-scale scientometric analysis of social sustainability in supply chains, offering a comprehensive overview of the field’s evolution from 2002 to 2024. It provides valuable insights for policymakers, firms, society and academia while establishing a roadmap for future research and practical implementation of social sustainability in supply chains.
Purpose As retail undergoes digital transformation, the integration of emerging technologies offers new opportunities for delivering services sustainably. This study aims to identify and map the key technological enablers shaping sustainability in retail services. Design/methodology/approach A structured literature review, informed by service-dominant logic and activity theory, was used to identify relevant technological enablers. The interpretive structural modeling technique was used to develop a hierarchical structure of these enablers. Subsequently, the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory method was applied to analyze the causal relationships and interdependencies among them. Findings High-driving enablers include Mobile Payment Systems, Big Data Analytics and Social Media Engagement Platforms. These cascade toward dependent technologies such as Blockchain and Automated Inventory Management. Real-Time Sustainability Dashboards, together with these drivers, exert strong interrelated influence. They create the conditions for effective deployment of downstream technologies and facilitate value co-creation across the retail service ecosystem. Research limitations/implications The study provides a strategic roadmap for retail managers to prioritize technological investments that deliver sustainable outcomes and enhance customer experiences. This approach supports the creation of a more responsible and future-ready retail service system. Originality/value This study presents a theory-informed framework to guide retail managers and service designers in integrating technology for sustainable outcomes. It bridges the sustainability-technology gap in retail service literature.