International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies (iJIM) – eISSN: 1865-7923 – Vol 17 No 08 (2023) Paper—Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and… Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and Blockchain Technology https://doi.org/10.3991/ijim.v17i08.39467 Samar Raza Talpur1(), Alhamzah F. Abbas2, Nohman Khan3, Sobia Irum4, Javed Ali5 1 Sukkur IBA University, Sukkur, Pakistan 2 Faculty of Management, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia 3 UniKL Business School Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 4 Department of Management and Marketing, University of Bahrain, Zallaq, Bahrain 5 Department of Business Administration, Sukkur IBA University, Sukkur, Pakistan samartalpur@iba-suk.edu.pk Abstract—The present study looks at how the internet of things and block- chain technology might be used to improve prospects in supply chain procedures. The current pandemic has highlighted the significance of resilient and dependa- ble supply chain systems that are less dependent on humans and more efficient in cycling goods supply chains. The present study included and excluded records from two recognised databases, Scopus and Web of Science, using the PRISMA declaration 2020. After following the inclusion and exclusion criteria details, in- vestigated the forty-seven articles with two significant data streams (traceability of supply chain management, resin and sustainability). Results illustrated that in today's environment, the rivalry has shifted from "firm vs firm" to "supply chain vs supply chain." As a result, the ability to optimise the supply chain has arisen as a significant issue for organisations seeking a competitive advantage. How- ever, it has become increasingly challenging to traceability of products and mer- chandise while they are moving through the value chain network. The Internet of Things (IoT) applications and blockchain technologies can help companies ob- serve, track, and monitor products, activities, privacy, security and processes within their respective value chain networks. Other applications of IoT include product monitoring to optimise operations in warehousing, manufacturing, food supply chain and transportation. Combined with IoT, Blockchain technology can enable various application scenarios to enhance supply-chain transparency and trust. When combined, IoT and Blockchain technology can increase the effec- tiveness and efficiency of modern supply chains. First, we illustrate how deploy- ing Blockchain technology in combination with IoT infrastructure can streamline and benefit modern supply chains and enhance value chain networks. Second, we also identified that the resilience of big data analytics, machine learning and ar- tificial intelligence is helpful for the sustainable development of social, economic and environmental contexts. Keywords—blockchain, internet of things, supply chain, traceability, resili- ence, sustainability iJIM ‒ Vol. 17, No. 08, 2023 23 https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 https://doi.org/10.3991/ijim.v17i08.39467 mailto:samartalpur@iba-suk.edu.pk https://www.mdpi.com/search?q=Blockchain https://www.mdpi.com/search?q=Internet%20of%20Things https://www.mdpi.com/search?q=supply%20chain Paper—Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and… 1 Introduction Industry 4.0, or the fast digitisation of industry, is popular in supply chain manage- ment. The opportunities presented by digitisation have enabled supply chains to access, store, and process important internal and external data (Schniederjans et al., 2020). Ac- cording to (Q. Feng & Shanthikumar, 2018) manufacturing companies may now re- ceive personalised client data to customise the sales process, product design, and ser- vice. One example is intelligent gadgets that use learning algorithms to capture and exchange data to find possibilities. In addition, digital disruption is already affecting supply chains and necessitating new manufacturing strategies, including a shift from traditional production planning and control to digital manufacturing (DM) large-scale to micro-scale manufacturing with multiple manufacturing locations (Srai et al., 2016). Digitisation also enables demand information to be transmitted directly to actuators in production plants, resulting in faster changeover times and higher service levels. The amount of data recorded and disseminated has also improved predicted accuracy and the ease of implementing prescriptive solutions. Forecasting uses of big data have lately developed in domains such as entertainment (Verma et al., 2011). According to (Quei- roz & Fosso Wamba, 2019), the supply chain management (SCM) profession is expe- riencing unprecedented problems because of the digital revolution enabled by cutting- edge technology. Despite the recent emphasis on Industry 4.0 still lacks a specific, widely recognised definition (Hofmann & Rüsch, 2017). The SCM literature shows a growing interest in exploring Industry 4.0 (Yasir et al., 2022). According to (Sikandar et al., 2022), Indus- try 4.0 solutions boost overall operational performance by allowing faster and more cost-effective responses. (Parvin et al., 2013) Highlight essential and operational per- formance factors in Industry 4.0. To increase business alignment, the authors identify areas for improvement and establish process initiatives, key performance indicators, and actions. Although, the intricate and dynamic features of these elements raise uncer- tainty in supply networks (Chauhan & Singh, 2020). To solve these difficulties, indus- try 4.0 technologies have been created to rebuild supply chains and create digital net- works (Garay-Rondero et al., 2020). (Ardito et al., 2019) emphasise the need to use big data to analyse trust, cultures, and behaviours in supply chains and cross-industry net- works to promote sustainability. In addition, Inter-organizational connections are sup- ported by various technologies in the industry 4.0 era since the relationship between stakeholders in the supply chain demands a particular amount of openness and security of data transferred inside the supply chain (Bag et al., 2018; Benzidia et al., 2021; Mus- tapha et al., 2022). Blockchain is a viable solution that might be coupled with other inter-organizational technologies to reduce trust, traceability, and cooperation concerns across supply chain operators (Aslam et al., 2018; Qureshi et al., n.d.). Blockchain is one of the most current disruptive Industry 4.0 cutting-edge technolo- gies. Among the most promising, blockchain technologies can alter Supply Chain Man- agement (SCM) business models due to their decentralised peer-to-peer model and tam- per-proof characteristics (Kshetri 2018)(Akhtar et al., 2022). According to (Wamba & Queiroz, 2020) blockchain enhanced openness and information sharing among SCM members, accountability, uncertainty reduction, trust and security, fraud prevention, 24 http://www.i-jim.org https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 Paper—Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and… and process confidence. These advantages are possible primarily because blockchain is a tamperproof system in which transactions cannot be changed, and all network partic- ipants have a copy of the transactions (Saberi et al., 2018). In addition, blockchain tech- nology can improve the sustainability of social supply chains (Chang et al., 2020). Keeping information solid and immutable ensures supply chain social sustainability (Pérez-Salazar et al., 2019). Also, blockchain traceability contributes to sustainability by improving the assurance of human rights and fair, safe work practices. For example, a thorough product history record increases customer confidence that things purchased are from ethical sources (Chaudhuri et al., 2021). In the above characteristics and features, the current study aims to investigate Im- proving opportunities in supply chain processes using the internet of things and block- chain technology. The current pandemic realised the importance of robust and reliable supply chain processes that is less human-dependent and more efficient in circulating the supply chain of products. The present study used the PRISMA statement 2020 to include and exclude records from the two reputable databases, Scopus and Web of Sci- ence. 2 Research methodology 2.1 Materials and method To incorporate high-quality materials, the current study employed the PRISMA statement 2020 to include and exclude records from Scopus and Web of Science data- bases. The data were screened using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Re- views and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, as recommended by (Moher et al., 2009) and shown in Figure 1. However, the current study used the PRISMA statement 2020 for better reporting for records and relevant reports associated with the literature. We used the search terms “Internet of things” AND “Blockchain” AND “Supply chain” for our literature survey. Initially, 675 records were obtained. The current review cov- ered publications from social science, computer sciences, engineering, business man- agement, accounting, economics, econometrics, finance, and interdisciplinary articles. In such a case, the results are reduced to 105 documents. Furthermore, we chose just the articles, reviews, and book chapters for the current study, reducing the number of records to 59. Additionally, only published and English-language documents were con- sidered to replicate the study's scope for important literature outcomes. This step de- creased the number of records to 50. The next stage was to remove unnecessary and missing document information duplication. A careful selection was created for each detected categorisation to analyse linked materials. To synthesise it, only 47 papers were included in the assessment. Figure 1 displays the PRISMA statement selection and rejection mechanism used in the current investigation. iJIM ‒ Vol. 17, No. 08, 2023 25 https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 Paper—Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and… Fig. 1. PRISMA statement 2020 methodological procedure 3 Descriptive analysis The multidisciplinary research question highlights the different disciplines' contri- butions to the supply chain process with IoTs and blockchain. The most contributing field is computer science, with 26% of records in the study selected. In addition, busi- ness management and accounting with 24% of studies included in the review; econom- ics, econometrics and finance; engineering field 9 % of studies; psychology, social sci- ences and multidisciplinary with 6% of studies, and finally, contribution of environ- mental sciences with 4%. The details in Figure 2 show the subject percentage contribu- tion from each subject. 26 http://www.i-jim.org https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 Paper—Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and… Fig. 2. Distribution of subjects included in the study Additionally, the records for the current study were picked mainly from recent years for two key reasons. First, the current pandemic has produced an unprecedented need for supply chain relevance, and second, the participation of advanced digital technolo- gies like blockchain and IoT (Hald & Coslugeanu, 2022). the records from 2016-to 2022 were dominant in the current review, as depicted in Figure 3. A significant number of articles are included from 2019 to 2021 due to the recent increase in supply chain intention from the researcher’s and academicians’ perspective; fourteen records were selected from 2020, which is significantly higher than other years. The significant ad- ditional contribution is from 2021 to 2019 with eleven and seven documents from each year, illustrated d in Figure 3. Fig. 3. Distribution of articles from each year Furthermore, the source-based results are depicted in Table 1 with the source titles, the number of records from sources, citation details and average of citations from each journal. The significant contribution of articles is recorded from the Sustainability (Switzerland) with ten records and 15% of total citations. However, the journal of Cleaner Productions total records and 4, but citation average and number is higher than the other sources included in the review. The number of articles selected from Journal of cleaner production is 4, total citations are 360 and the average is 17%. In addition, Computer science 26% Business, Management and Accounting 24% Economics, Econometrics and Finance 19% Social Sciences 6% Environmental Science 4% multidisciplinary 6% Psychology 6% Engineering 9% NUMBE 0 5 10 15 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 N U M B ER O F A R TI CL ES FROM EACH YEAR Total number iJIM ‒ Vol. 17, No. 08, 2023 27 https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 Paper—Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and… the other significant contribution is recorded from Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management journal, International Journal of Production Economics, and Computers and Security. The sources details, the number of articles, citation reports, and citations average have illustrated the Table 1. Table 1. Source title, article numbers, citation, and citation average Source title Article numbers Cited by Citation average Sustainability (Switzerland) 10 329 15% Journal of Cleaner Production 4 360 17% Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management 3 340 16% International Journal of Production Economics 3 258 12% Computers and Security 2 113 5% Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2 26 1% Environmental Technology and Innovation 2 42 2% IEEE Engineering Management Review 2 20 1% International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2 98 5% International Journal of Information Management 2 179 8% International Journal of Production Research 2 107 5% Internet of Things (Netherlands) 2 31 1% Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2 162 8% Scientometrics 2 37 2% Technological Forecasting and Social Change 2 11 1% Moreover, we employed key terms occurrences analysis to identify the significant themes in the review literature. The VOS Viewer emphasised the number of keywords and key phrases used in the published articles. Forty-five selected papers analysed the critical occurrence, with 55 essential terms appearing more than ten times. Three sig- nificant data streams were assigned during the key term's occurrence research: Sustain- ability and traceability of supply chain management. We also offer the relevancy score for each sentence and the average score. In addition, a minimum of eight occurs was included in the table, and the sign’s used term was 32 times. Moreover, we also have a relevance score for each word extracted from the VOS viewer software. Table 2 depicts the terms, classification, occurrences of critical terms and relevance score of each time below. 28 http://www.i-jim.org https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 Paper—Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and… Table 2. Key term occurrences, terms selected, and relevance score Term Classification occurrences relevance score business Sustainability 12 0.8514 development 22 0.2689 environment 21 0.526 field 20 0.4545 organisation 19 0.5431 service 16 0.4392 smart contract 10 1.1638 solution 19 0.5156 area Traceability 20 0.4901 benefit 12 0.9398 control 11 0.7355 food supply chain 19 1.1178 insight 9 2.6401 lack 8 1.1738 literature 23 0.4257 logistic 10 0.4287 privacy 11 0.6608 product 17 0.8867 stakeholder 16 0.8088 traceability 23 0.9902 transaction 11 1.6204 Additionally, the documents were examined using bibliometric key term occur- rences and content analysis to determine the classifications of the study. VOS Viewer software analyses the published literature’s content—data clusters created on the text established to group the related ideas. The current study found that in more detail in the journals' indexing procedure outlined in the databases, researchers' keywords and key- words are equally accurate for bibliometric analysis designed to uncover the structures of the examining field. Hence, we involved both class keywords for the co‐occurrence analysis within the study area associated with social media and organisational sustain- ability. In total, 47 records were contained within the research, and the data delivered 56 keywords. We have thoroughly established and selected only the most numerous 55 repetitive keywords in at least two records. Figure 4 illustrates the content analysis re- sults. The cluster is represented by blue displays traceability, food supply chain, secu- rity, disruptive technologies, and consumers. The cluster in red is primarily ascribed to cloud computing, big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and business. The brown cluster signifies research, development, originality value, new technology, and knowledge. However, the clusters are further divided into four major classification streams. iJIM ‒ Vol. 17, No. 08, 2023 29 https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 Paper—Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and… Fig. 4. The classification of literature using the VOS viewer 4 Classification 4.1 Traceability in supply chain management Traditional Internet of Things (IoT) traceability systems use Radio Frequency Iden- tification (RFID), Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), and Near Field Communication (NFC) tech Every organisation is exposed to supply chain interruption in today's dy- namic and uncertain market and consumption (H. Feng et al., 2020). According to (M. A. Khan & Salah, 2018), It can give valuable data for monitoring and traceability. How- ever, because it is built on the centralised server-client paradigm, stakeholders and con- sumers must rely on a single information point to store, send, and distribute traceability data. In addition, traceability optimises profitability through transparency while ensur- ing product quality and safety (Iftekhar & Cui, 2021). Proposals for product traceability began in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Other firms are incorporating block- chain technology as a means of achieving the aim of transparency (Pérez et al., 2020). However, product quality at each stage of the supply chain depends on the quality of the previous steps. Thus, the final product's quality depends on suitable traceability methods along the supply chain. Implementing automatic data capture systems is costly, and the variety of technologies makes it difficult to implement them (M. M. Khan et al., 2022; Nurgazina et al., 2021). Also, Sensor technologies such as IoT and cyber-physical systems (CPS) have been widely integrated to maintain logistics moni- toring, product quality tracking, process control, and assure data-driven decision-mak- ing (Pillai et al., 2022). Additionally, blockchain technology not only enables transpar- ency but also aids in creating distributed and immutable records, allowing for the trace- ability of inputs. Blockchain technology's traceability mechanism also aids in the pre- vention of fraud across the supply chain (Boschi et al., 2018). Table 3 below shows the 30 http://www.i-jim.org https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 Paper—Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and… authors’ details, articles’ citations, sub-classification details, segments and settings in which the research was conducted. Table 3. Authors, cited by sub-classification, segments, and settings Authors Cited by Sub-classification settings segment Feng et al., 2020 204 food quality and safety management Internet of Things (IoT) blockchain-based food traceability systems Bumblauskas et al., 2020 179 production and sup-ply chain eggs from farm to consumer blockchain and in- ternet of things (IoT) Duan et al., 2020 98 WHO food insecurity security, immuta-bility Iftekhar & Cui, 2021 27 COVID-19 frozen meat packages supply chain archi-tecture Pillai et al., 2022 23 authenticity and se-curity tracing suppliers and customers Blockchain Tsiulin et al., 2020 22 shipping industry blockchain-based applications supply chain Nurgazina et al., 2021 18 consumers and stakeholders novel technological and sustainable prac- tices scalability, secu- rity, and privacy X. Li et al., 2021 17 enabled building in- formation modelling (BIM) blockchain stakeholders According to (Duan et al., 2020), traceability enables detailed logging of product movements, allowing businesses to understand the supply chain better, make smarter decisions, and prevent potential quality problems. Tracing items backwards and for- ward along the supply chain helps speed up the process of isolating and locating specific products from certain suppliers, making quality inspections and product recalls more efficient. Customers gain knowledge and trust in purchasing items by exhibiting the movement of resources and products (Fraga-Lamas et al., 2020). In addition, block- chain was discovered to be a viable method for attaining effective traceability in the food supply chain. One of the first blockchain studies in food traceability was con- ducted (Tsiulin et al., 2020). In addition, prior research has demonstrated that block- chain technology offers various advantages, including identity management (Li et al., 2021). In the supply chain, blockchain may be used to store and communicate data with other parties, such as suppliers, customers, and so on, or to compare the data received with other node data or outside data for verification. Blockchain enables supply-chain visibility into who executes what actions, where, and when (Bumblauskas et al., 2020). According to (Senyo et al., 2019), information is digitally linked to each unique product on the blockchain, producing a digital record to show provenance, compliance, authen- ticity, and quality. This information is available to all stakeholders and follows the product throughout the supply chain. In addition, calls for blockchain integration are becoming increasingly common in the traceability context of the supply chain manage- ment process. iJIM ‒ Vol. 17, No. 08, 2023 31 https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 Paper—Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and… 4.2 Sustainability Blockchain and IoTs are particularly essential in terms of sustainability. Because of its tracking capabilities, blockchain and IoTs can help reduce product recall and rework; (2) it is easy to trace the actual footprint of products and determine the exact amount of carbon tax that each company should be charged; (3) it facilitates recycling behaviour by incentivising individuals to participate in deposit-based recycling programmes; and (4) it improves the efficiency of emission trading (Esmaeilian et al., 2020). According to (Zhang et al., 2020), introducing blockchain technology may considerably facilitate green and sustainable supply chain processes. When combined with other technologies such as big data analytics and the internet of things (IoT), blockchain technology "could be utilised to establish a permanent, shareable, measurable record of every moment of a product's trip through its supply chain," supplying smooth product traceability, au- thenticity, and legitimacy. In addition, sustainable and environmentally friendly supply chains are a big problem for all worldwide sectors. Many organisations strive to protect the environment through process changes, new strategies, and international certifica- tions such as ISO 14000 (Rane & Thakker, 2020). According to (Rane et al., 2021), blockchain and IoT are new technologies integrated into supply networks. Although they have the potential to alter the dynamics of the green supply chain, they are still facing obstacles. Security and transparency are critical considerations for a green sup- ply chain that include a variety of parties and processes, such as supplier selection, shipping, packaging, and distribution (Tan et al., 2020). Table 4 below shows the au- thors’ details, articles’ citations, sub-classification details, segments and settings in which the research was conducted. Table 4. Authors, cited by, sub-classification, segments, and settings Authors Cited by Sub-classification settings segment Esmaeilian et al., 2020 162 Industry 4.0 energy management blockchain and internet of things (IoT) Zhang et al., 2020 102 Life cycle assess-ment environmental im- pacts of a product or service internet-of-things (IoT) and big data analytics Tan et al., 2020 40 business organisa-tions Internet of Things and big data green logistics Rane & Thakker, 2020 32 integration of block-chain and IoT green procurement Environment issues and challenges Rane & Thakker, 2020 18 greening of the sup-ply chain managers and practi- tioners planning blockchain and internet of things (IoT) technologies Ada et al., 2021 14 circular economy food supply chains machine learning Hrouga et al., 2022 12 environmental regu-lations supply chain Blockchain technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) Tijan et al., 2019 138 sustainable logistics and supply chain management delay, damage to goods, errors blockchain technology Kamble et al., 2020 258 sustainable agricul-ture supply chains Internet of things, the blockchain agriculture supply chains 32 http://www.i-jim.org https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 Paper—Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and… There is increasing awareness of and concern about food production and consump- tion's environmental, social, and economic impacts. As a result, consumer organisa- tions, social and environmental advocacy groups, agricultural organisations, and gov- ernments have increased their push to build sustainable supply chains (Kamble et al., 2020). In addition, rising food waste is becoming a worldwide challenge regarding food security, necessitating simultaneous environmental, economic, and social management. It is critical to developing a more sustainable food supply chain to eliminate these con- sequences (Ada et al., 2021). However, digital tools like Big Data, IoT, Blockchain, Augmented Reality, and Cloud Computing has evolved recently and are being utilised to digitise supply chains and logistics. These tools' primary goals are to offer real-time data, enhance supplies, reduce transportation costs, optimise delivery, build intelligent warehouses, and improve demand forecasting in supply chains. In addition, blockchain and IoT digitise the supply chain for hazardous waste collection and management (Hrouga et al., 2022). Unlike current digital supply chain technologies, its use will be utilised to geolocate, collect, transport, and track dangerous trash. Blockchain allows for the control of hazards and the significant consolidation of data generated by IoT devices (Tijan et al., 2019). 5 Conclusion and future agenda The current study's findings indicate that the supply chain is essential in supplying goods. Organisational reliance on the state relies heavily on supply chain resilience, transparency, and traceability. Blockchain technology and IoT devices significantly in- crease supply chain channels' standards in many industries. Most notably, food supply traceability is frequently covered in preceding literature, formerly a severe problem. Blockchain integration improves supply chain management's privacy, data availability, authentication, and dependability. In addition, IoT-based devices and sensors are also vital for supply chain management decisions for sustainable development. In addition, IoT enables businesses to acquire new data from various stages of their supply chain. Such devices, for example, may trace the manufacture of a packaged food product from ingredient sourcing to production, transportation, and sale, including inventory status and working conditions in manufacturing and logistics facilities. Figure 5 shows the outcomes of the study. iJIM ‒ Vol. 17, No. 08, 2023 33 https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 Paper—Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and… Fig. 5. Outcomes from the literature Furthermore, the importance of big data analytics and machine learning is boosting supply chain management agility. Future academics must investigate the utility of big data analytics and machine learning algorithms in supply chain management. The pre- sent study's findings also suggest that blockchain technology and IoTs play an essential role in environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Food waste during the sup- ply chain process is a significant concern, and integrating blockchain with IoT sensors addresses this problem. 6 References [1] Ada, N., Kazancoglu, Y., Sezer, M. D., Ede-Senturk, C., Ozer, I., Ram, M., Li, G., Mangla, S., Sun, J., Wu, H., Yue, X., & Testa, R. (2021). Analyzing Barriers of Circular Food Supply Chains and Proposing Industry 4.0 Solutions. Sustainability 2021, Vol. 13, Page 6812, 13(12), 6812. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU13126812 [2] Akhtar, N., Khan, N., Qayyum, S., Qureshi, M. I., & Hishan, S. S. (2022). Efficacy and pitfalls of digital technologies in healthcare services: A systematic review of two decades. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPUBH.2022.869793 [3] Ardito, L., Scuotto, V., del Giudice, M., & Petruzzelli, A. M. (2019). A bibliometric analysis of research on Big Data analytics for business and management. Management Decision, 57(8), 1993–2009. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-07-2018-0754 [4] Aslam, H., Blome, C., Roscoe, S., & Azhar, T. M. (2018). Dynamic supply chain capabili- ties: How market sensing, supply chain agility and adaptability affect supply chain ambi- dexterity. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 38(12), 2266– 2285. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-09-2017-0555 34 http://www.i-jim.org https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 https://doi.org/10.3390/SU13126812 https://doi.org/10.3389/FPUBH.2022.869793 https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-07-2018-0754 https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-09-2017-0555 Paper—Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and… [5] Bag, S., Telukdarie, A., Pretorius, J. H. C., & Gupta, S. (2018). Industry 4.0 and supply chain sustainability: framework and future research directions. Benchmarking, 28(5), 1410– 1450. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-03-2018-0056 [6] Benzidia, S., Makaoui, N., & Subramanian, N. (2021). Impact of ambidexterity of block- chain technology and social factors on new product development: A supply chain and In- dustry 4.0 perspective. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 169, 120819. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TECHFORE.2021.120819 [7] Boschi, A. A., Borin, R., Raimundo, J. C., & Batocchio, A. (2018). An exploration of block- chain technology in supply chain management. 27–28. [8] Bumblauskas, D., Mann, A., Dugan, B., & Rittmer, J. (2020). A blockchain use case in food distribution: Do you know where your food has been? International Journal of Information Management, 52, 102008. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJINFOMGT.2019.09.004 [9] Chang, Y., Iakovou, E., & Shi, W. (2020). Blockchain in global supply chains and cross border trade: a critical synthesis of the state-of-the-art, challenges and opportunities. Inter- national Journal of Production Research, 58(7), 2082–2099. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 00207543.2019.1651946 [10] Chaudhuri, A., Bhatia, M. S., Kayikci, Y., Fernandes, K. J., & Fosso-Wamba, S. (2021). Improving social sustainability and reducing supply chain risks through blockchain imple- mentation: role of outcome and behavioural mechanisms. Annals of Operations Research, 1–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10479-021-04307-6 [11] Chauhan, C., & Singh, A. (2020). A review of Industry 4.0 in supply chain management studies. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 31(5), 863–886. https://doi. org/10.1108/JMTM-04-2018-0105 [12] Duan, J., Zhang, C., Gong, Y., Brown, S., & Li, Z. (2020). A Content-Analysis Based Lit- erature Review in Blockchain Adoption within Food Supply Chain. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, Vol. 17, Page 1784, 17(5), 1784. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH17051784 [13] Esmaeilian, B., Sarkis, J., Lewis, K., & Behdad, S. (2020). Blockchain for the future of sustainable supply chain management in Industry 4.0. Resources, Conservation and Recy- cling, 163, 105064. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RESCONREC.2020.105064 [14] Feng, H., Wang, X., Duan, Y., Zhang, J., & Zhang, X. (2020). Applying blockchain tech- nology to improve agri-food traceability: A review of development methods, benefits and challenges. Journal of Cleaner Production, 260, 121031. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLE– PRO.2020.121031 [15] Feng, Q., & Shanthikumar, J. G. (2018). How Research in Production and Operations Man- agement May Evolve in the Era of Big Data. Production and Operations Management, 27(9), 1670–1684. https://doi.org/10.1111/POMS.12836 [16] Fraga-Lamas, P., Fernández-Caramés, T. M., Fraga-Lamas, P., & Fernández-Caramés, T. M. (2020). Leveraging Blockchain for Sustainability and Open Innovation: A Cyber-Resil- ient Approach toward EU Green Deal and UN Sustainable Development Goals. Computer Security Threats. https://doi.org/10.5772/INTECHOPEN.92371 [17] Garay-Rondero, C. L., Martinez-Flores, J. L., Smith, N. R., Caballero Morales, S. O., & Aldrette-Malacara, A. (2020). Digital supply chain model in Industry 4.0. Journal of Manu- facturing Technology Management, 31(5), 887–933. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-08- 2018-0280 [18] Hald, K. S., & Coslugeanu, P. (2022). The preliminary supply chain lessons of the COVID- 19 disruption—What is the role of digital technologies? Operations Management Research, 15(1–2), 282–297. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12063-021-00207-X iJIM ‒ Vol. 17, No. 08, 2023 35 https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-03-2018-0056 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TECHFORE.2021.120819 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJINFOMGT.2019.09.004 https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2019.1651946 https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2019.1651946 https://doi.org/10.1007/S10479-021-04307-6 https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-04-2018-0105 https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-04-2018-0105 https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH17051784 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RESCONREC.2020.105064 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLE%E2%80%93PRO.2020.121031 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLE%E2%80%93PRO.2020.121031 https://doi.org/10.1111/POMS.12836 https://doi.org/10.5772/INTECHOPEN.92371 https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-08-2018-0280 https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-08-2018-0280 https://doi.org/10.1007/S12063-021-00207-X Paper—Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and… [19] Hofmann, E., & Rüsch, M. (2017). Industry 4.0 and the current status as well as future pro- spects on logistics. Computers in Industry, 89, 23–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COMPIND. 2017.04.002 [20] Hrouga, M., Sbihi, A., & Chavallard, M. (2022). The potentials of combining Blockchain technology and Internet of Things for digital reverse supply chain: A case study. Journal of Cleaner Production, 337, 130609. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2022.130609 [21] Iftekhar, A., & Cui, X. (2021). Blockchain-Based Traceability System That Ensures Food Safety Measures to Protect Consumer Safety and COVID-19 Free Supply Chains. Foods 2021, Vol. 10, Page 1289, 10(6), 1289. https://doi.org/10.3390/FOODS10061289 [22] Kamble, S. S., Gunasekaran, A., & Gawankar, S. A. (2020). Achieving sustainable perfor- mance in a data-driven agriculture supply chain: A review for research and applications. International Journal of Production Economics, 219, 179–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/ J.IJPE.2019.05.022 [23] Khan, M. A., & Salah, K. (2018). IoT security: Review, blockchain solutions, and open challenges. Future Generation Computer Systems, 82, 395–411. https://doi.org/10.1016/ J.FUTURE.2017.11.022 [24] Khan, M. M., Siddique, M., Yasir, M., Qureshi, M. I., Khan, N., & Safdar, M. Z. (2022). The Significance of Digital Marketing in Shaping Ecotourism Behaviour through Destina- tion Image. Sustainability 2022, Vol. 14, Page 7395, 14(12), 7395. https://doi.org/10.3390/ SU14127395 [25] Li, X., Lu, W., Xue, F., Wu, L., Zhao, R., Lou, J., & Xu, J. (2021). Blockchain-Enabled IoT- BIM Platform for Supply Chain Management in Modular Construction. Journal of Construc- tion Engineering and Management, 148(2), 04021195. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO. 1943-7862.0002229 [26] Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., Altman, D., Antes, G., Atkins, D., Bar- bour, V., Barrowman, N., Berlin, J. A., Clark, J., Clarke, M., Cook, D., D’Amico, R., Deeks, J. J., Devereaux, P. J., Dickersin, K., Egger, M., Ernst, E., … Tugwell, P. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. In PLoS Medicine (Vol. 6, Issue 7, p. e1000097). Public Library of Science. https://doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pmed.1000097 [27] Mustapha, I., Khan, N., Qureshi, M. I., & Van, N. T. (2022). Assessing Hospital Manage- ment Performance in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) During the COVID-19: A Study from the Pandemic Outbreak Perspective. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineer- ing, 18(10), 154–168. https://doi.org/10.3991/IJOE.V18I10.32733 [28] Nurgazina, J., Pakdeetrakulwong, U., Moser, T., & Reiner, G. (2021). Distributed Ledger Technology Applications in Food Supply Chains: A Review of Challenges and Future Re- search Directions. Sustainability 2021, Vol. 13, Page 4206, 13(8), 4206. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/SU13084206 [29] Parvin, S., Hussain, F. K., Hussain, O. K., Thein, T., & Park, J. S. (2013). Multi-cyber frame- work for availability enhancement of cyber physical systems. Computing, 95(10–11), 927– 948. https://doi.org/10.1007/S00607-012-0227-7 [30] Pérez, J. J. B., Queiruga-Dios, A., Martínez, V. G., & del Rey, Á. M. (2020). Traceability of Ready-to-Wear Clothing through Blockchain Technology. Sustainability 2020, Vol. 12, Page 7491, 12(18), 7491. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU12187491 [31] Pérez-Salazar, M. del R., Aguilar-Lasserre, A. A., Cedillo-Campos, M. G., Juárez-Martínez, U., & Posada-Gómez, R. (2019). Processes and measurement of knowledge management in supply chains: an integrative systematic literature review. International Journal of Produc- tion Research, 57(7), 2136–2159. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2018.1521530 36 http://www.i-jim.org https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COMPIND.2017.04.002 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COMPIND.2017.04.002 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2022.130609 https://doi.org/10.3390/FOODS10061289 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJPE.2019.05.022 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJPE.2019.05.022 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FUTURE.2017.11.022 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FUTURE.2017.11.022 https://doi.org/10.3390/SU14127395 https://doi.org/10.3390/SU14127395 https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0002229 https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0002229 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097 https://doi.org/10.3991/IJOE.V18I10.32733 https://doi.org/10.3390/SU13084206 https://doi.org/10.3390/SU13084206 https://doi.org/10.1007/S00607-012-0227-7 https://doi.org/10.3390/SU12187491 https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2018.1521530 Paper—Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and… [32] Pillai, B., Biswas, K., Hou, Z., & Muthukkumarasamy, V. (2022). Cross-Blockchain Tech- nology: Integration Framework and Security Assumptions. IEEE Access, 10, 41239–41259. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3167172 [33] Queiroz, M. M., & Fosso Wamba, S. (2019). Blockchain adoption challenges in supply chain: An empirical investigation of the main drivers in India and the USA. International Journal of Information Management, 46, 70–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJINFOMGT. 2018.11.021 [34] Qureshi, N. A., Khan, N., & Ali, J. (n.d.). The Blockchain Technologies in Healthcare: Pro- spects, Obstacles, and Future Recommendations; Lessons Learned from Digitalization. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v18i09.32253 [35] Rane, S. B., & Thakker, S. V. (2020). Green procurement process model based on block- chain–IoT integrated architecture for a sustainable business. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 31(3), 741–763. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-06-2019- 0136 [36] Rane, S. B., Thakker, S. V., & Kant, R. (2021). Stakeholders’ involvement in green supply chain: a perspective of blockchain IoT-integrated architecture. Management of Environmen- tal Quality: An International Journal, 32(6), 1166–1191. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-11- 2019-0248 [37] Saberi, S., Kouhizadeh, M., Sarkis, J., & Shen, L. (2018). Blockchain technology and its relationships to sustainable supply chain management, 57(7), 2117–2135. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00207543.2018.1533261 [38] Schniederjans, D. G., Curado, C., & Khalajhedayati, M. (2020). Supply chain digitisation trends: An integration of knowledge management. International Journal of Production Eco- nomics, 220, 107439. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJPE.2019.07.012 [39] Senyo, P. K., Liu, K., & Effah, J. (2019). Digital business ecosystem: Literature review and a framework for future research. International Journal of Information Management, 47, 52– 64. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJINFOMGT.2019.01.002 [40] Sikandar, H., Abbas, A. F., Khan, N., & Qureshi, M. I. (2022). Digital Technologies in Healthcare: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering, 18(8), 34–48. https://doi.org/10.3991/IJOE.V18I08.31961 [41] Srai, J. S., Kumar, M., Graham, G., Phillips, W., Tooze, J., Ford, S., Beecher, P., Raj, B., Gregory, M., Tiwari, M. K., Ravi, B., Neely, A., Shankar, R., Charnley, F., & Tiwari, A. (2016). Distributed manufacturing: scope, challenges and opportunities, 54(23), 6917–6935. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2016.1192302 [42] Tan, B. Q., Wang, F., Liu, J., Kang, K., & Costa, F. (2020). A Blockchain-Based Framework for Green Logistics in Supply Chains. Sustainability 2020, Vol. 12, Page 4656, 12(11), 4656. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU12114656 [43] Tijan, E., Aksentijević, S., Ivanić, K., & Jardas, M. (2019). Blockchain Technology Imple- mentation in Logistics. Sustainability 2019, Vol. 11, Page 1185, 11(4), 1185. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/SU11041185 [44] Tsiulin, S., Reinau, K. H., Hilmola, O. P., Goryaev, N., & Karam, A. (2020). Blockchain- based applications in shipping and port management: a literature review towards defining key conceptual frameworks. Review of International Business and Strategy, 30(2), 201–224. https://doi.org/10.1108/RIBS-04-2019-0051 [45] Verma, A., Seth, N., & Singhal, N. (2011). Enablers of supply chain competitiveness: An interpretive structural modelling approach. International Journal of Value Chain Manage- ment, 5(3–4), 212–231. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJVCM.2011.043227 iJIM ‒ Vol. 17, No. 08, 2023 37 https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3167172 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJINFOMGT.2018.11.021 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJINFOMGT.2018.11.021 https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v18i09.32253 https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-06-2019-0136 https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-06-2019-0136 https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-11-2019-0248 https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-11-2019-0248 https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2018.1533261 https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2018.1533261 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJPE.2019.07.012 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJINFOMGT.2019.01.002 https://doi.org/10.3991/IJOE.V18I08.31961 https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2016.1192302 https://doi.org/10.3390/SU12114656 https://doi.org/10.3390/SU11041185 https://doi.org/10.3390/SU11041185 https://doi.org/10.1108/RIBS-04-2019-0051 https://doi.org/10.1504/IJVCM.2011.043227 Paper—Improving Opportunities in Supply Chain Processes Using the Internet of Things and… [46] Wamba, S. F., & Queiroz, M. M. (2020). Industry 4.0 and the supply chain digitalisation: a blockchain diffusion perspective, 33(2–3), 193–210. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287. 2020.1810756 [47] Yasir, M., Ullah, A., Siddique, M., Hamid, Z., & Khan, N. (2022). The Capabilities, Chal- lenges, and Resilience of Digital Learning as a Tool for Education During the COVID-19. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies, 16(13), 160–174. https://doi.org/ 10.3991/IJIM.V16I13.30909 [48] Zhang, A., Zhong, R. Y., Farooque, M., Kang, K., & Venkatesh, V. G. (2020). Blockchain- based life cycle assessment: An implementation framework and system architecture. Re- sources, Conservation and Recycling, 152, 104512. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RESCON– REC.2019.104512 7 Authors Samar Raza Talpur is Director ICT at Sukkur IBA University, Sukkur, Pakistan (email: samartalpur@iba-suk.edu.pk). Alhamzah F. Abbas is with Faculty of Management, Universiti Teknologi Malay- sia, Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia (email: Alhamza.fadil@gmail.com, ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7508-9340). Nohman Khan is with UniKL Business School Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (email: nohman.khan@s.unikl.edu.my). Sobia Irum is with College of Business Administration, Department of Manage- ment and Marketing, University of Bahrain, Zallaq, Bahrain. Javed Ali is with Department of Business Administration, Sukkur IBA University, Sukkur, Pakistan (email: Javedali@iba-suk.edu.pk). Article submitted 2023-01-27. Resubmitted 2023-03-03. Final acceptance 2023-03-09. Final version pub- lished as submitted by the authors. 38 http://www.i-jim.org https://www.igi-global.com/article/improving-opportunities-in-healthcare-supply-chain-processes-via-the-internet-of-things-and-blockchain-technology/222730 https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2020.1810756 https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2020.1810756 https://doi.org/10.3991/IJIM.V16I13.30909 https://doi.org/10.3991/IJIM.V16I13.30909 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RESCON%E2%80%93REC.2019.104512 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RESCON%E2%80%93REC.2019.104512 mailto:samartalpur@iba-suk.edu.pk mailto:Alhamza.fadil@gmail.com http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7508-9340 mailto:nohman.khan@s.unikl.edu.my