Supply Chain Digitalization

Abstract

This literature review was undertaken to examine the impact of digitalization on the supply chain. A series of peer-reviewed journal articles were read and summarized to provide an array of perspectives on digitalization in the global marketplace. Multiple papers acknowledged the capabilities of digitalization, but they also stated that there was room for improvement to take full advantage of the measuring and data collection capabilities. The benefits that resulted from transforming to a digital landscape were notated in several papers. Measurement, analysis, driving costs out of the supply chain and products, and delivering superior customer service because of digital installation were praised as an economic necessity in today’s market. Digitalization is also given credit for increasing the competitiveness in commodity manufacturing. COVID-19 was acknowledged as a major source of disruption. The supply chain industry’s resilience based on digitization was credited for helping companies successfully reemerge after the pandemic passed through the most threatening stage. The consensus of the research articles is that digitalization is a technology that is here to stay. It is such a critical facet of business that all the research takes it as a given in any company that requires a supply chain.  The second aspect of this paper is to report on the impact of a Biblical worldview as it correlates or contradicts the learning objectives of this managing the supply chain course. It is striking to see how creation, the fall, and redemption can literally and metaphorically explain supply chain management decisions.

Supply Chain Digitalization Introduction

Supply chain digitalization started as a trickle in the 1960’s and has steadily increased to the point where it is an operational and economic necessity in today’s marketplace. Digitalization is defined as the ability to transfer a paper or analog reading to a digital image that a computer can decipher. This allows written and visual images to be transferred worldwide in real-time. Due to the large array of sensor technology, digitalization can capture sizable sums of data. Then the data can be analyzed by software programs and reviewed by analysts to make adjustments to the supply change structure. Supply chain digitalization is proving to be an essential agent that helps drive efficiency, and reduces costs in manufacturing and shipping logistics. The following literature review surveys recent journal research articles to obtain a grasp of the current state of digitalization as it pertains to the state of supply chain applications.  

Supply Chain Digitalization Literature Review

In a paper investigating the digital transformation of supply chains, Mielcarek and Piekarczyk provide an overview of supply chain performance by stating that the supply chain has significant room for growth in adopting digital technology (Mielcarek & Piekarczyk, 2023).  Adoption is the first step in the process. However, enhanced performance accurately reflects success in supply chain functions. This study was conducted in two hundred and thirty-five randomly chosen warehouse and distribution companies in Poland. Specific performance measures were ascertained. Profit, market share, return on investment, and competitive advantage indicated a positive correlation. The return-on-investment results showed the best effect is predicated on digital measurement tools and analysis. The most impactful changes were accomplished with synchronized scheduling and dynamic order processing. The conclusion proposes a systematic and comprehensive digital system change approach for companies in this category.

Ivanov, Dolgui, and Sololov studied the changes caused by digitalization and the adaptation of Industry 4.0 on the supply chain in this article (Ivanov et al., 2019). They claim to be the first study that investigated business, information, engineering, and analytics perspectives as they relate to digitalization and supply chain risk. The study proposes a review in three areas: (1) Big data analytics, Industry 4.0, additive manufacturing, advanced trace and tracking systems, and supply chain disruption. (2) Digitalization and its ripple effect on the supply chain (3) Digital technology-based extensions and their ability to assist with supply chain analytics. The paper does an outstanding job of presenting specific technology tools, which can be summarized into four categories. They are Big Data Analytics, Industry 4.0, Additive Manufacturing, and Advanced T & T Systems. The study concludes that digital technologies have a positive influence on demand responsiveness and production flexibility. In addition, they aid in inventory risk management.

The authors of this historical supply chain research paper conducted an analysis of three hundred thirty-one articles and over twelve thousand citations (Milovanović et al., 2022). These results pointed them to a future research agenda focused on five areas: data-science supply chain management, supply chain ability, digital manufacturing strategy, Omni-channel and Internet of Things, and resource-based review. Technical capabilities drive the Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as Industry 4.0. In stark contrast to the past, companies are becoming more transparent in their business practices. Reducing costs in a competitive global economy is making supply chain management a vital part of their efforts to remain competitive. The areas of significant opportunity include information availability, inter-company logistics, and real-time access to information regarding operations, maintenance, innovation, and product design competencies.

Mak and Shen (2021) cite a Harvard Business Review article written in 2004 by Lee as a revolutionary concept in the world of supply chain management. Lee’s paper stated that agility, adaptability, and alignment were the keys to sustainable supply chain management. Mak and Shen postulate that the digitalization movement opens the door to challenges and opportunities for developing supply chains based on this Triple-A platform. The innovation comes in the form of a consumer-to-manufacturer (C2M) model. This means digital links between end users, upstream manufacturers, and product designers. These links increase the flow of information between the customer and the manufacturer to facilitate more rapid product-to-customer processes.

In a research paper exploring the relationship between Information and Digital Technologies (IDT) and Lean Supply Chain Management (LCSM), Núñez-Merino (2020), uncovered multiple complexities in the relationship.  Lean management is a system that seeks to eliminate any source of waste via reduction of the variability in a system. The research was conducted via a Systematic Literature Review to evaluate published research. The authors stated that four lines of research were identified, obsolete IDT, mature IDT, emerging IDT, and an IDT general approach in LCSM. They conclude by saying their paper created a novel literature classification. The link between Information, IDT, and LCSM is indisputable and valuable for lean supply management to continue as a business discipline.  

Talwar and associates write about operations and supply chain management’s propensity to be digitally networked, which generates a large volume of real-time data (Talwar et al., 2021). This data is generated via embedded sensors, tags, barcodes, radio frequency identification tags, and other sensor technology, depending on the product being monitored. Value is caused by the disclosure of information derived from previously unused analysis. The term velocity is a reference to the speed of data generation. Velocity allows a firm to capture and use data rapidly while the analysis has validity. Research revealed that in one year (2014), forty-six percent of firms achieved a ten percent increase in demand fulfillment using big data. This type of result confirms the value of accessing large amounts of data and helps create trust and value in the eyes of customers. Big data usage also improved third-party logistics by seventy percent of customers according to a global logistics survey by Accenture in 2014. The authors conclude these observations with several astute managerial conclusions. Number one is that point-of-sale software, Google trends, smartphone and social media data can reliably be used to predict buying behavior. Additionally, the availability of one product can, at times, influence the demand for another. For example, gas grills may influence the need for five-gallon propane bottles and cooking utensils. Two other benefits are stated. Knowledge about consumer behavior and the ability to respond to demand trends are capabilities that have tangible value to the company.  

 T. D. Herbst did an outstanding job of defining the parameters of commodity manufacturers in his research paper. He then made a case for the benefits of digital technology analysis as a differentiation method (Herbst, 2021). However, it is crucial to understand the challenges of being a commodity producer. A commodity is essentially the same as any other product in the same class. This makes product differentiation difficult and forces the supplier to compete on price.  The digital solutions are multi-fold. Number one is the possibility of reducing product options and producing simplicity in the marketplace is presented. Herbst also encourages information sharing and open data exchange in a multi-tier supply chain. He cites the possible advantages of using information asymmetry within a multi-tier supply chain driven by modularity. Implementing vertical and horizontal collaboration is also recommended as a solution to commodity competition.   

Cui and his research associates assert that the COVID-19 pandemic created more complexity during the crisis (Cui et al., 2023). That meant processing accurate information was difficult. It also contributed to production uncertainty. The consummation of these events disrupted the typical supply chain process. Despite these obstacles, this paper affirms that digital technology is an essential method where internal integration, customer integration, and supplier integration are utilized to produce resilience. Effectively evaluating complex data is instrumental in producing resiliency during significant disruption. Indeed, the onslaught of COVID-19 globally must qualify as a significant disruption to our economy and the global supply chain. Rapid feedback is a key to responding before expenses disrupt the company operations. This process is a form of reverse opportunity loss.  Money expended on labor and unsellable products damages the liquidity necessary for a profitable enterprise. The contribution is the ability of digital technologies to aid in the ability to improve resilience during times of significant disruptions.  

Nayal and his research associates conducted a study based on data collected from three hundred and sixty-one respondents from the automotive industry in India. The exploration examined the role of digitalization in a global economy as a method to improve sustainable performance (Nayal et al., 2022). They surmise that the literature concerning collaboration in a digitalized supply chain is lacking. Consequently, the goal is to research the impact of supply chain collaboration, sustainable performance, sustainable development strategy, and digital transformation on chain performance. This study utilizes structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze data collected from 361 respondents in the automotive industry in India. The results indicate that Sustainable Supply Chain data and action analysis positively affect sustainable development strategy (SDS). SDS positively affects digital transformation and collaborative advantages. Digital transformation fully buffers the association between collaboration and coordination. The study suggests managers can apply the performance criteria in series to achieve sustainable performance. However, the supply chain must be digitalized to enrich the collaborative advantages. The study provides empirical evidence to policymakers and business managers for the synergy between collaboration, sustainable performance, development strategies, and digital transformation to achieve sustainable performance in the supply chain’s manufacturing sector.

Hellweg and his research associates performed a structured literature review to investigate digital supply chains. They stated that digital technologies deliver advantages over traditional ones (Hellweg et al., 2021). Their goal is to investigate maturity models for digital supply chains and propose possibilities for additional research. Once a maturity model is discovered, they are analyzed regarding their type and focus on a supply chain function or digitalization dimension. Twenty-eight maturity models have been identified. They each focus on a supply chain function or technology. The authors noted a distinct lack of information in the manufacturing industries that demand additional research. A maturity model is ” the degree to which a process is defined, managed, measured, and continuously improved.”  However, there is no consensus on what a maturity model should look like. The consequences of having no formal maturity model open the door to a digital program that does not fully realize the benefits of digitalization. Due to the lack of empirical data in real-world situations, end users may struggle to execute an optimized program that benefits the supply chain organization. Consequently, the authors aim to present a maturity model for digital supply chain practitioners.

This retail-oriented research effort seeks to uncover a thorough comprehension of digital transformation in retail supply chains (Ishfaq et al., 2022). The key is to identify the essential elements and their interactions. A theoretically derived explanation of the retail supply chain was developed. The connection between the supply chain ecosystem and retailing is characterized. This characterization is then used to strategize an organizational perspective that enables the digitization of the previously undigitized supply chain system. This digital transformation process incorporates real-time reporting, discovers speed, the propensity to action, visibility, and promotes executional flexibility. Digital supply chains demand strategic awareness. For this transition to be successful, the company’s senior management must be fully aware of the process. Conventional retail supply chains are arranged as a network of independent entities. Typically, they are composed of merchants, supply chain organizations, and store management. A digitalized system creates the opportunity for multiple ways for the retailer to serve their customers. With digital transformation, retailers discover opportunities for better resource utilization and superior customer service. The next step forward is an element of automated decision-making. Software-driven intelligence creates efficiencies and still yields some effectiveness in human interactions.  They conclude that a digital supply chain will leverage technology and analytics to improve customer service dramatically. The institution of a digital supply chain is almost self-generating.  The knowledge of the benefits creates a quest for company improvement that requires additional monetary and cognitive investment.

In a paper drafted from the viewpoint of a business consultant delivering services to clients behind the times in digitizing their company, the authors make several doomsday declarations. It starts with the benefits of being digital and bluntly states that the train is leaving the analog station (Sayyadi & Provitera, 2023). It has become a sink-or-swim question in this digital economy. One of the keys to profitability in the highly competitive business culture is the ability to reduce costs and increase profits based on data analytics and adjustments to the market. This ability results from the investment in a digital ecosystem within the organization. Based on interviews with eighty-one senior managers, the researchers concluded there is a powerful relationship between market value and the amount of investment in digital technology. Also, Korean and Chinese companies have increased the implementation of digital tools to a high-performance level that can curtail the time between product development time and enhance the management of the relationships with customers and the supply chain. This benefits customer satisfaction and adds to the cash flow collection process.

Synthesis: Supply Chain Digitalization

The preceding paper summaries provide an overview of the current state of digitalization in the supply chain industry. Digitalization is taking an analog piece of information and creating a document a computer can read. The next question is, why should a company make this transformation? There are many benefits, and the ramifications are wide-ranging. The primary reason has to be the economic efficiencies that digitalization can produce (Milovanović et al., 2022). Since enormous sums of data can be created with a digital platform, there must be an efficient way to analyze that data to make it worthwhile (Brezinski & Jurek, 2023).  Software tools and statistical analysis can be used to create reports that allow management to make decisions that drive costs and time out of the supply chain processes (Pyankova et al., 2021). The cost reduction and time management theme is constantly seen throughout this literature review. The following information will provide specific insights into why companies should adopt a digitalization plan for their supply chain program.

Profitability

Although the requirement to create a profit is timeless, it appears to be ever more pressing in the current time (Jena & Singhal, 2023). The computerization of the business world and the analytical tools available for introspection combined with globalization have intensified competition. Digital monitoring, analysis, and production efficiencies resulting from digitalization have created a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they allow companies to reduce costs and create higher profits. On the other hand, they produce products and cost efficiencies that make them extremely tough competitors. These factors make raising prices to maintain profitability improbable.

Regarding digitalization, Mielcarek and Piekarczyk (2023) wrote that the return-on-investment results showed the best effect predicated on digital measurement tools and analysis. Measurement allows a company to identify and measure waste and eliminate that cost. An example can be drawn from the outsourced cell phone assembly operations in low-wage countries. Static attraction is a common cause of attracting dust and mandating extra cleaning steps (ANSI/ESD S20.20-2021). Using ionization equipment to neutralize the screens before exposure to the assembly room atmosphere eliminates the manual cleaning phase. This saves time and potential screen damage to the product. Consequently, a shorter period of time consumed in the assembly process drives costs down.

Big data in operations and supply chain management is the subject of an extensive literature review published in the International Journal of Production Research (Talwar et al., 2021).Bid data gathered from digital measuring devices delivers the raw data points to be analyzed. The large amount of data provides statistical validity, which creates trust when senior management decides to cut costs or eliminate a process.

Customer Service

Customers are at the heart of every product or service available on the open market. Even from an internal perspective, the services provided by the company’s departments must meet some level of service qualification. In a free market economy, customers are free to choose from multiple suppliers to meet their needs. In conjunction with the need to survive and produce a product that genuinely fills a need, this competitive scope demands some aspect of customer satisfaction. Supply chain digitalization is now playing a substantial role in delivering products sooner and at a lower cost.    

Ivanov and his research associates report that big data analysis and advanced trace and tracking systems are two supply chain-related capabilities that rely on digitization to create value in a company (Ivanov et al., 2019).  It is not simply faster delivery that aids in better customer service. A digital approach drives cost out of the customer’s business as well. Additionally, the level and quality of communication creates trust and superior product development. Sayyadi and Provitera, (2023) authored a paper from a supply chain consultant’s perspective. They proposed that investing in a digital ecosystem is essential to reducing costs and providing excellent customer service. Investment in a digital supply chain also creates market value for the company.

Digitalization’s Impact on Manufacturing     

It is difficult to imagine a manufacturing process in a medium or large size company that does not rely on digitalization to design, plan, produce, quality check, and ship products to their customers. Paper forms and manual systems have been replaced via embedded sensors, tags, barcodes, radio frequency identification tags, and other sensor technology (Talwar et al., 2021).  The product design is dependent on digital technology to create the concepts and execute the development of the item (Björkdahl, 2020). Semiconductors are a prime example of a heavy reliance on digital design to create images in submicron size. What a great irony it is to know that semiconductors are also essential in optimizing the supply chain to produce cost reductions. Measuring volume production via digital technology is a fundamental way to save time and labor costs. Digitalization aids in quality issues, safety compliance, information technology, and human resources development.

Faith Integration – The Genesis Model

Tim Keller compiled an excellent overview of the earth before the fall. The fall of mankind from grace section provides a clear perspective on the negative experiences we have living in this time period. This information about the balance of common grace helps believers understand how they function in a culture of believers and non-believers. Understanding that God is the creator of everything and everybody, makes the cause and effect of an educational effort very straightforward. God created us as physical and spiritual beings. Our brains have the mental capacity to retain an enormous amount of data and synthesize that data into a coherent whole. Just because God is an unseen spiritual being does not mean he lacks the power to act in the world. Our ability to think and act must be understood as a circular series of activities. God created mankind; he provided us with the ability to think and plan activities, and our bodies act in a manner to execute the plans. Therefore, our faith in God as the provider of mental capacity is at the core of a learning experience. The following segments will provide a Biblical perspective of a Christian worldview related to faith and work.      

Creation

In Tim Keller’s book Every Good Endeavor, he paints a vivid picture of the role of work in a perfectly created world (Keller, 2014). In contrast to what many people may think, a perfect world does not mean a world without work. To substantiate that claim, Keller quotes Genesis 2:1-3. The scripture states, “And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done” (New International Version, 2020, Genesis 2:1).   As believers, there should be a focused effort to love God. One of the primary ways to love someone is to emulate their actions and trust their judgment. Therefore, one should view work as a divine institution since God himself worked and assigned work for Adam to do in the Garden of Eden.

According to Genesis chapter one, God created order out of chaos. This perfect symmetry reflects the work of a master craftsman. This is a call to practice excellence in every aspect of our lives—this literature review reports on the latest advances in supply chain technology via digitalization. Taking advantage of these digital tools is a superior method of addressing supply chain challenges in a complex business atmosphere.

Keller proceeds to explain that God is constantly involved in providing for us. These works of providence are clear and evident every day if we simply pause and reflect on what is happening in the solar system. The earth rotates daily and provides day and night. What makes it rotate? The earth makes its annual journey around the sun, providing seasons of birth, growth, decline, death, and rebirth. God’s physical law of gravity holds it in orbit. But what propels it around the sun? Rain falls, and seeds germinate, but God must send the rain and cause the seeds to exhibit life. One single seed can create thousands of seeds to ensure abundant food and make life flourish. These properties are out of man’s hands; only God provides that wisdom and power. As further evidence that God is self-evident in our cosmos, we only need to turn to Paul’s statement in Romans 1:19-20. “Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (New International Version, 2020, Romans 1:19-20). The most insightful passage in Keller’s first chapter reveals that work was a part of paradise. Work is part of God’s perfect design for human life. As an encouragement regarding work, true freedom is finding the proper restrictions in our business life as a means of liberation. This form of wisdom allows people to use the gifts provided by God. In the following segment, Keller explains how the fall of mankind has tainted the role of work in our lives.

The Fall

If there had been no fall from a perfectly created world, work would have fit into people’s lives with the symmetry and sense of purpose as it was supposed to function (Keller, 2014). Now it is cursed because of the fall. God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil as just an arbitrary rule. Obedience to His command was a test of love and trust in God. This test remains in play to this very moment. Our desire to live self-centered lives is a sign of continuing rebellion that haunts us in every phase of our personal and business lives.  Spiritual, physical, social, cultural, psychological, and eternal components no longer function as they should. These misconstrued values lead people into guilt, striving, and rebellion. Friction and anger surface as a byproduct of self-centeredness. The physical world now displays disease, old age, natural disasters, and ultimately, death.

In a paper investigating the professional quality of work, multiple symptoms of the fall were reported (Eddy et al., 2021). Fatigue is reported to decrease satisfaction at work, which leads to engagement problems with work associates. There is further evidence of this issue noted by turnover, absenteeism, and lower morale. Emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion leads to a poor quality of work. These issues cost lost productivity and revenue loss that impact the entire economy. It is not difficult to comprehend how the degradation of personal values and Godly ethics leads to a breakdown in supply chain functions. Dealing with international cultures that have dissimilar values and a boldly stated desire to take over the world (Communist China) means Christian businesspeople must be alert to an out-of-focus priority on work that may spell a compromise of our principles.

Keller concludes this chapter by stating that due to the fall of the human race, work is frustrating and never as fruitful as we desire. It is good to be aware of this work culture because, as contributing workforce members, we must not allow the pressures to destroy our Christian witness.

Redemption – Consummation

Earthly redemption refers to an individual’s acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord, God, and Savior. At the time of acceptance, we enter into an eternal relationship with God. That relationship continues whether we live in our earthly bodies or have departed this earth for a heavenly existence. As believers, we are encouraged to work out our faith by renewing our mind. The renewing of our minds should yield increasing levels of spiritual maturity as we progress in our faith. Keller states that our maturity should create a vision for serving the customer with excellence and product quality, with an ethical culture that extends throughout the organization. The digitalization of the supply chain should foster a higher level of service and honesty due to digital measurement accuracy.

Earlier this year Wirtz and his research associates published a paper on corporate digital responsibility in service firms (Wirtz et al., 2023). They stated that digitalization, artificial intelligence, and service robots create risks in ethically related issues. Technology’s omnipresence is cause for concern from a corporate digital responsibility perspective. The presence of corporate digital responsibility is mitigated due to the corporate objectives in many cases. The authors proposed a set of strategies, tools, and practices to manage conflict and build a prevailing corporate digital responsibility culture. This paper is evidence of a value-based mindset that emanates from a Christian worldview.

Learning Objectives and a Christian Worldview

The following commentary will address the supply chain learning objectives in conjunction with a Christian worldview. Creation, rebellion, and redemption are addressed as integral factors in how choices are made and the motivating factors behind those decisions.

Creativeness and the Supply Chain

Undertaking a study of the supply chain with all the possibilities and constraints opens the door to visualizing creative ways to solve supply chain problems. In this third decade of the twenty-first century, it is hard to conceive of a supply chain functioning efficiently without digitalization. Creating a process to address all the challenges of shipping and inventory management requires cooperation and a willingness to work together for the company’s good. Since we are keenly aware that God provides intelligence and logic, those gifts should be used to create progressive supply chain management tools. For example, digitalization plays a key role in a system like push and pull inventory management. The ability to measure sales trends and dead stock finished products, mandates changes that mitigate or eliminate that drain on profitability. Indeed, a learning objective that aids in the company’s long-term viability is a wise course of action. It can also be surmised that coping with variability in customer demand is a universal issue confronting almost every manufacturer, distributor, and retailer (Simchi-Levi et al., 2003). This type of variability can easily lead to personal stress and the resultant physical ailments that correlate with an unknown future. However, as believers, we are told to follow God and not worry about the daily provisions of life. We should be concerned about other people’s well-being as it relates to their eternal soul. The mark of maturity will allow a supply chain manager to use advanced digitization analysis software and improved communications to predict product demand more accurately.   

Results of the Fall and Learning Objectives

As Tim Keller so eloquently writes in Every Good Endeavor, the perfection that God established is damaged by the fall of man from grace. Consequently, we live in a world tainted by sin that results in moral corruption, fraud, lying, theft, arrogance, and poor product quality. As believers, we should not be surprised by these types of conditions. The world would have us believe that wealth, power, and pleasure are the objects that should be pursued to obtain joy and satisfaction. The truth is that all these accomplishments are temporary highs followed by deeper desires to have more of the same. True peace is accomplished by staying close to God in every walk of life. With pure motives and the knowledge that we live in a flawed world, disappointments can be weathered with the knowledge that God is in control. 

Supply chain digitalization can aid with adherence to a set of standards, controls, and ethical behavior that contribute to the benefit of a company. For example, supply contracts establish a list of mutual expectations governing the business between two or more enterprises. Critical items such as pricing, volume discounts, minimum and maximum purchase quantities, deliveries, product quality, and return policies are detailed for each entity to adhere to (Simchi-Levi et al., 2022). God endowed everyone on earth with a conscience. Therefore, humans have an innate sense of right and wrong that allows no excuses for failure to comply with the terms of a contract.

The value of information is important enough for the Designing and Measuring the Supply Chain textbook to set aside an entire chapter to address its gravity (Simchi-Levi et al., 2022). The benefits of having abundant information are wide-ranging. They include reducing variability, forecasting, manufacturing and distribution coordination, product presentation, reaction to supply problems quickly, and reduction of lead times. Using digital means to collect data has provided rapid analysis capabilities that enhance profitability. This has become a significant benefit that digitalization creates.  A concern that surfaces periodically is the willingness to falsify records for the sake of defrauding investors, dodging auditors, or evading taxes. When an individual or a company engages in this type of conduct, they are virtually saying they do not trust God to provide for their needs. Willful falsification means the guilty party engaged in misconduct with intentional disregard for God’s standards for conducting business. Proverbs 10:23 states “The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him” (New International Version, 2020, Proverbs 20:23). The wisdom of Solomon, reflecting God’s will, speaks down through the centuries.

Procurement and outsourcing strategies are important business functions that are rife with opportunities to compromise the honesty expected in these situations. One of the common methods of prospering illegally in a procurement position is to accept kickbacks in the form of money, goods, and services from a supplier.  Empirical observations of dishonest conduct include hunting trips, financial payments, alcohol, sex, gifts, and entertainment. An experience at Alcoa Aluminum in Tennessee created a company-wide lockdown on lunches, sporting events, and even small inexpensive items like desk calendars and ink pens. The employees were under the threat of termination for any offense that even appeared like an under-the-table graft. As a business manager for a supplier at Alcoa in Texas, it was imperative to obey Alcoa’s directives.

Redemption

Redemption opens the door for those people in business positions to accept forgiveness and commit to living a standard of personal and business conduct that reflects the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. A Christian worldview should pave the way to righteous conduct that puts an individual business agent above reproach. Those individuals responsible for designing and managing the supply chain should be willing to measure a customer’s value to the company. This function should bring objectivity to the process that demands the highest level of fairness available to all parties. This is easier said than done in a fallen world. Even the most subtle of biases in the design phase of a supply chain can produce monetary losses or gains. Customer value must be understood by asking multiple questions about the relationship (Simchi-Levi et al., 2022). These questions include: How is customer value measured? Can the supply chain match product characteristics and sales strategy? How does information technology create customer value? How many supply chains does a company require? From a revenue generation perspective, the sales volume and the gross profit margin are key considerations. Unfortunately, too many new associates in the business world equate gross sales dollars with profit dollars. This lack of basic business knowledge could drive a company into bankruptcy if allowed unchecked. Digitalization is a critical tool when used to measure customer value. Key decisions pertaining to accepting new business can be made based on the measurements provided by digital tools.

An aspect of conducting business as a believer is to take a long-term perspective whenever any part of the infrastructure is being considered. This must be the case when the company’s sustainable supply chains are being designed and installed. In today’s business culture corporate social responsibility has become a factor that should be considered. Operational improvements and innovations must be evaluated for sustainability as well. Due to the necessity of shipping freight in many supply chain systems, emission controls are a factor in cost control, environmental compliance, and public relations.  

This perspective on redemption needs to permeate the entire organization. Having believers in leadership positions allows them to establish policy and set a cultural tone of pure conduct. These expectations can be published in the mission and vision statements of the company. These statements must be genuine and overtly used as a foundation for conducting business. Even the company name can reflect the values of the company. These values can be explained when the company is introduced to a prospect or business associate. For example, the company name TRUCON is an abbreviation of truth and conscientiousness. Developing this type of reputation in every department of the company can be used to demonstrate that a faith-based organization can be trusted because they are following God’s directives for His purposes on earth. 

Conclusion

Even though somewhat limited in its scope of literature review, this research yields many critical insights into the world of digitalization and supply chain management. Several benefits contribute significantly to the pressing need for cost control and profitability in a global economy. Consequently, the authors of these investigations believe digitalization in supply chain management is an absolute necessity. A partial list of the benefits includes scheduling and dynamic order processing, risk mitigation, information availability, agility, and adaptability. Additional benefits include data generation, buyer behavior predictability, and the company’s ability to differentiate itself.

Post-COVID-19 resilience must be acknowledged as a benefit of the digital capability installed at companies worldwide. These capabilities present themselves as trustworthy templates and sustainable business models. The retail industry benefits due to the rapid availability of data and software tools that assist with automation in analysis and ordering functions. Digitalization in the twenty-first century drives the efficiencies that must exist to compete and survive.

A Christian worldview of creation, the fall, and redemption fit hand in glove with the learning goals in this supply chain management course. Christians are instructed to apply themselves with excellence in everything they undertake. That will mean we utilize the digitalization capabilities present in the marketplace. Understanding that we are created in the image of God allows people to use their creative power to drive efficiencies in business. Being aware of the fall and all the problematic implications that it imposes on the world helps us understand the challenges we face in the marketplace. Redemption opens the door to an optimistic perspective that promotes persistence and joy as challenging tasks and disruptions are encountered.