The Information Technology in Supply Chain Integration: Case Study of Reda Chemicals with Elemica

The main objective of this article is to highlight the role of information technology in the supply chain, specifically in the B2B business automation, which is helping supply chains to achieve global integration. The benefits of this approach to improve the performance of supply chains are explained in this article through a case study of Reda chemicals using Elemica supply chain integration solutions for B2B automation. A qualitative approach is used to evaluate nodes in the supply chain integration and the results of the case study as well. The findings of this research are mainly comprised by two facts: (1) the information technology is essential for supply chain integrations and (2) it was established by our case study that using B2B business automation has led to significant improvement of the supply chain. The main contribution of this research lies in developing best practices of supply chain integrations using B2B automation. Keywords information technology, supply chain integration, B2B business, collaboration, logistics

Do Enterprise Systems Enable Supply Chain Integration?

Features of ERP systems such as standardized business processes, data integrity, real-time availability, visibility and processing capability of information are expected to create an excellent backdrop for embarking on integration with external partners in the supply chain. This paper reports on the enabling role of ERP systems in achieving supply chain integration from an interpretive case study analysis. Study observed that the organization is slow in embarking on changes to the inter-enterprise processes and not taking full advantage of the high potential. Reasons noted for constraining role of ERP systems in achieving an effective supply chain integration are changes in power and organizational structures, inadequate integration of internal processes, limited flexibility of processes, lack of decision support capability of the ERP system, and general inertia for further changes consequent to ERP implementation. In addition other factors such as supply chain partners inability to take a holistic view, complexity of developing technology interfaces, industry characteristics, and lack of information technology sophistication of the smaller partners are also limiting the potential

Determining the Operational Performance in Supply Chain with Moderating Role of Information Quality: A case of Thai Textile Industry

The prime objective of the current research is to determine the operational performance of textile units of Thailand. The study was conducted on the Thai textile manufacturers as this industry is one of important and backbone for economy. The study aims to determine the operational performance predictors and investigated the relationship between technology integration and logistics integration. The information possesses the central importance in management of supply chain and play vital role in supply chain activities as decision making based on information quality and accuracy. Inaccurate information will mislead the firm to take inappropriate decision in highly competitive environment. The study examined the moderating role of information quality and found interesting results that technology and logistics integration positively significantly influence the operational performance. The moderating effect was observed in technology integration and operational performance but no moderation effect was found between logistics integration and operational performance

The Impact of Supply Chain Accounting Information Systems Harmonization on Creating a Competitive Advantage for the Iraqi General Commission Taxation

The importance of information technology is inevitable in this information innovation driven business landscape. Keeping in view the importance of information technology, supply chain accounting information system has become popular in information intensive organization. This study has initiated with the objective to shed light on the importance of supply chain accounting information system in general and Iraqi General Commission for Taxation in particular. This study investigates the role of supply chain accounting information system to create competitive advantage for Iraqi General Commission for Taxation. Interviews were conducted from selected officials of Taxation department. The results showed that all the respondents agreed that supply chain accounting information system is a useful approach to create competitive advantage in term of cost reduction, enhancing operational efficiency, increasing the scope of organization and strengthen the internal control system. Hence, this study proposed to implement supply chain accounting information system in Iraqi General Commission for Taxation. The integration of information technology with conventional accounting system will improve the adequacy of tax department which ultimately strengthen the economy

Achieving supply chain integration using RFID technology: The case of emerging intelligent B-to-B e-commerce processes in a living laboratory

Purpose: Despite the high operational and strategic potentials of RFID technology, very little studies have been conducted about its role as enabler of supply chain integration to achieve high-level operational efficiency. Therefore, this study is an initial effort towards bridging the existing knowledge gap in the literature. Design/methodology: This exploratory research was conducted in one retail supply chain. A multi-method approach combining a longitudinal real-life case study and a methodology integrating several steps, including a “Living Laboratory” strategy was used and involved all members of a product line to analyze in terms of their contributing activities and their interface with other supply chain members, the aim being to explore the impact of RFID technology on inter- and intra-organizational processes and information systems. Findings: Our results provide support to the role of RFID as enabler of better integration of timeliness and accuracy data flows into information systems, business process optimization through automation, better system-to-system communication and better inter- and-intra-organizational business process integration. Furthermore, they also validate the unique characteristics of RFID technology such as enabler of realtime multiple tags items data collection and exchange within the supply chain and the read-and-write capability that may help, for example, to reuse some RFID tags within the supply chain and therefore reduce the cost related to the purchase of the said RFID tags. Finally, the study also reveals the importance of business process renovation and complementary investments during the adoption of RFID technology in order to achieve high level of business value from the technology

Achieving supply chain integration using RFID technology: The case of emerging intelligent B-to-B e-commerce processes in a living laboratory

Purpose: Despite the high operational and strategic potentials of RFID technology, very little studies have been conducted about its role as enabler of supply chain integration to achieve high-level operational efficiency. Therefore, this study is an initial effort towards bridging the existing knowledge gap in the literature. Design/methodology: This exploratory research was conducted in one retail supply chain. A multi-method approach combining a longitudinal real-life case study and a methodology integrating several steps, including a “Living Laboratory” strategy was used and involved all members of a product line to analyze in terms of their contributing activities and their interface with other supply chain members, the aim being to explore the impact of RFID technology on inter- and intra-organizational processes and information systems. Findings: Our results provide support to the role of RFID as enabler of better integration of timeliness and accuracy data flows into information systems, business process optimization through automation, better system-to-system communication and better inter- and-intra-organizational business process integration. Furthermore, they also validate the unique characteristics of RFID technology such as enabler of realtime multiple tags items data collection and exchange within the supply chain and the read-and-write capability that may help, for example, to reuse some RFID tags within the supply chain and therefore reduce the cost related to the purchase of the said RFID tags. Finally, the study also reveals the importance of business process renovation and complementary investments during the adoption of RFID technology in order to achieve high level of business value from the technology

The fostering role of information technology on SMEs’ strategic purchasing, logistics integration and business performance

Scholarly concerns about the fostering role of information technology (IT) in supply chain management have increased dramatically over the past decades. Nevertheless, there are significant issues yet to be addressed and resolved, one of which relates to the influences of IT on strategic purchasing, logistics integration and business performance in the context of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In view of the importance of IT in today’s business world, and supply chain management in particular, the current study seeks to investigate the influence of IT on SMEs’ performance and the mediating role of strategic purchasing and logistics integration. Four hypothesised relationships are tested with a sample of 162 SMEs in Zimbabwe. The results suggest that IT positively influences SMEs’ strategic purchasing, logistics integration and business performance in a significant way. The managerial implications of the findings are discussed, and the limitations and future research directions are indicated.Key words: strategic purchasing, information technology (IT), logistics integration,business performance, small and medium enterprises (SMEs

Supply chain intelligence in business organisations: a Malaysian perspective

The business environment has become more competitive due to advancements in technology and globalisation. Emphasising intelligence as a means for dealing with such circumstances, this study examined the role of supply chain intelligence (SCI), which embraces the process of competitive intelligence (CI) in the operations of a supply chain management (SCM). The integration is needed to ensure that this actionable information from CI has a 360-degree view of business activities amongst supply chains. What exactly is supply chain intelligence? How does supply chain intelligence influence business competitiveness in Malaysia? How does supply chain intelligence help businesses to achieve competitive advantages? This paper examined the contribution of supply chain intelligence on business competitiveness by: a) identifying and validating the dimension of supply chain intelligence components, and b) examining the levels of supply chain intelligence usage by businesses. A focus group was employed as a preliminary study to validate the supply chain intelligence components, and subsequently, for the development of the questionnaire for the survey in the study. The results contribute to the literature by emphasising the use of systematic intelligence in supply chain integration to improve business competitiveness

Supply chain intelligence in business organizations: a Malaysian perspective

The business environment has become more competitive due to advancements in technology and globalisation. Emphasising intelligence as a means for dealing with such circumstances, this study examined the role of supply chain intelligence (SCI), which embraces the process of competitive intelligence (CI) in the operations of a supply chain management (SCM). The integration is needed to ensure that this actionable information from CI has a 360-degree view of business activities amongst supply chains. What exactly is supply chain intelligence? How does supply chain intelligence influence business competitiveness in Malaysia? How does supply chain intelligence help businesses to achieve competitive advantages? This paper examined the contribution of supply chain intelligence on business competitiveness by: a) identifying and validating the dimension of supply chain intelligence components, and b) examining the levels of supply chain intelligence usage by businesses. A focus group was employed as a preliminary study to validate the supply chain intelligence components, and subsequently, for the development of the questionnaire for the survey in the study. The results contribute to the literature by emphasising the use of systematic intelligence in supply chain integration to improve business competitiveness

Firm Performance Impacts of Digitally Enabled Supply Chain Integration Capabilities

Best practice exemplars suggest that digital platforms play a critical role in managing supply chain activities and partnerships that generate performance gains for firms. However, there is limited academic investigation on how and why information technology can create performance gains for firms in a supply chain management (SCM) context. Grant’s (1996) theoretical notion of higher-order capabilities and a hierarchy of capabilities has been used in recent information systems research by Barua et al. (2004), Sambamurthy et al. (2003), and Mithas et al. (2004) to reframe the conversation from the direct performance impacts of IT resources and investments to how and why IT shapes higher-order process capabilities that create performance gains for firms. We draw on the emerging IT-enabled organizational capabilities perspective to suggest that firms that develop IT infrastructure integration for SCM and leverage it to create a higher-order supply chain integration capability generate significant and sustainable performance gains. A research model is developed to investigate the hierarchy of IT-related capabilities and their impact on firm performance. Data were collected from 110 supply chain and logistics managers in manufacturing and retail organizations. Our results suggest that integrated IT infrastructures enable firms to develop the higher-order capability of supply chain process integration. This capability enables firms to unbundle information flows from physical flows, and to share information with their supply chain partners to create information-based approaches for superior demand planning, for the staging and movement of physical products, and for streamlining voluminous and complex financial work processes. Furthermore, IT-enabled supply chain integration capability results in significant and sustained firm performance gains, especially in operational excellence and revenue growth. Managerial initiatives should be directed at developing an integrated IT infrastructure and leveraging it to create process capabilities for the integration of resource flows between a firm and its supply chain partners