The Role of ERP in Supply Chain Management A Comparative Study between Agricultural & Industrial Sectors

In today’s competitive fast-changing environment, businesses are compelled to adapt to meet customer demands and requirements. Widespread digitization of the economy reinforced use of new information and communication technologies within organizations. An effective supply chain results in enhanced financial and non-financial performance. Managers are, thus, increasingly convinced of information systems’ major role in attaining organizational objectives. Our research study aims to explain how does ERP system affect SCM performance in the agricultural and industrial sectors. It also brings to light sector specificity and its impact on enhancing and/or reducing information system performance. A total of 30 semi-structured interviews were conducted, of which 19 in a Moroccan farm group and 11 in a Moroccan industrial holding. Findings from this study explain ERP’s role in supply chain management in both sectors, and outline sector specificity’s major impact on ERP performance. Further research should examine agricultural sector particularity in countries which have reached massive advancement in information and communication technology equipment and in modernized agriculture, notably Japan, Australia and China

Information System Integration in Citrus Packing Stations: A Key Driver for Product Quality and Customer Satisfaction

In the context of Morocco’s growing citrus exports and its involvement in the dynamic global market, Citrus Packing Stations play a crucial role as intermediaries in the distribution of processed agricultural commodities. The main aim of this study is to investigate the impact of integrating information systems on the improvement of product quality and customer satisfaction within the framework of CPS. Employing a mixed sequential exploratory approach, this research first draws on qualitative insights from five citrus packing case studies to generate survey items assessing the influence of information systems on product quality and customer satisfaction. In the subsequent quantitative phase, data from 40 CPS are analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and simple linear regression. Empirical findings demonstrate that the effective integration of information systems has a significant impact on enhancing product quality, improving customer satisfaction, and establishing a strong relationship between these two variables. The results underscore the broader importance of integrating information technologies into the context of supply chain management, hence providing prospects for further academic research in this field. The population size also suggests larger-scale investigations in order to expand the analytical framework

ERP-Mediated Information Integration: An Empirical Case Study on Supply Chain Efficiency in Morocco’s Red Meat Sector

In the framework of the Generation Green Strategy (2020-2030) and the preceding Green Morocco Plan (2008-2020), the red meat industry is recognized as a substantial catalyst for food security, employment, and the promotion of modernization through the adoption of technological advancements. The primary aim of this research paper is to examine the extent to which information integration, facilitated through ERP implementation, affects the supply chain performance of agri-food companies. To this end, the article examines a case study of an agri-food holding that successfully implemented a customized ERP system in 2016. Employing a qualitative research strategy, twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted across the six enterprises within the holding until theoretical saturation was reached. The investigation’s findings demonstrate the substantial impact of ERP-mediated information integration on supply chain performance, leading to improvements in decision-making processes and operational efficiency. This study serves as a basis for further academic investigations and policy discussions in the pursuit of an effective, sustainable, and technologically advanced agri-food supply chain. Furthermore, it suggests the need for additional research in order to get a thorough comprehension of the complex effects of ERP systems on the dynamics of agri-food supply chains

Operational Impact of Information System Integration on Cost Efficiency, Inventory Control, and Timeliness in Citrus Supply Chain Dynamics

The present research investigates information systems adoption in Moroccan Citrus Packing Stations (CPS) and its operational implications for supply chain dynamics amid the challenging climatic conditions of the 2022-2023. This study focuses on examining the impact of integrated information systems (IS) on cost efficiency, inventory control, and delivery timeliness in the citrus sector, a vital component of Morocco's national economy. Adopting a sequential exploratory design, the initial qualitative phase entailed five semi-structured interviews with key personnel in CPS; which enabled the creation of survey items for the subsequent quantitative analysis, where a questionnaire was distributed to all 50 operational citrus packing stations in Morocco, achieving an 80% response rate (Bentaleb & Taki, 2023). The data analysis involved thematic analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and simple regression, thus ensuring a comprehensive assessment of the effects of information system implementation. The results indicate that the successful integration of information systems has a substantial impact on reducing operating costs, improving inventory management, and enhancing delivery timeliness in the realm of CPS. These enhancements are of greatest significance for the sector's ability to effectively respond to the dynamic market demands and environmental constraints. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the significance of integrating information systems in order to achieve efficient supply chain management, particularly in managing perishable products like citrus fruits. Still, the study acknowledges its limitations since it primarily focuses on Moroccan CPS. This implies the necessity for cross-national research to provide more comprehensive perspectives (Bentaleb & Taki, 2023). The practical implications of this study are substantial for CPS and the broader agricultural sector, offering actionable insights for leveraging technology in optimizing supply chain operations. This research makes an important contribution by building upon the foundational research conducted by Bentaleb and Taki (2023) and providing empirical evidence on the operational impacts of information systems on SCM metrics within the agri-sector. It highlights the capacity of information systems to not solely address present challenges but also to proactively contribute to the development of a more effective and sustainable future for the farming industry as a whole.   Keywords: Information Systems Integration, Cost Efficiency, Inventory Management, Delivery Timeliness, Citrus Supply Chain Dynamics. Classification JEL : Q13, O33, Q12, C88 Paper type: Empirical Research  The present research investigates information systems adoption in Moroccan Citrus Packing Stations (CPS) and its operational implications for supply chain dynamics amid the challenging climatic conditions of the 2022-2023. This study focuses on examining the impact of integrated information systems (IS) on cost efficiency, inventory control, and delivery timeliness in the citrus sector, a vital component of Morocco's national economy. Adopting a sequential exploratory design, the initial qualitative phase entailed five semi-structured interviews with key personnel in CPS; which enabled the creation of survey items for the subsequent quantitative analysis, where a questionnaire was distributed to all 50 operational citrus packing stations in Morocco, achieving an 80% response rate (Bentaleb & Taki, 2023). The data analysis involved thematic analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and simple regression, thus ensuring a comprehensive assessment of the effects of information system implementation. The results indicate that the successful integration of information systems has a substantial impact on reducing operating costs, improving inventory management, and enhancing delivery timeliness in the realm of CPS. These enhancements are of greatest significance for the sector's ability to effectively respond to the dynamic market demands and environmental constraints. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the significance of integrating information systems in order to achieve efficient supply chain management, particularly in managing perishable products like citrus fruits. Still, the study acknowledges its limitations since it primarily focuses on Moroccan CPS. This implies the necessity for cross-national research to provide more comprehensive perspectives (Bentaleb & Taki, 2023). The practical implications of this study are substantial for CPS and the broader agricultural sector, offering actionable insights for leveraging technology in optimizing supply chain operations. This research makes an important contribution by building upon the foundational research conducted by Bentaleb and Taki (2023) and providing empirical evidence on the operational impacts of information systems on SCM metrics within the agri-sector. It highlights the capacity of information systems to not solely address present challenges but also to proactively contribute to the development of a more effective and sustainable future for the farming industry as a whole.   Keywords: Information Systems Integration, Cost Efficiency, Inventory Management, Delivery Timeliness, Citrus Supply Chain Dynamics. Classification JEL : Q13, O33, Q12, C88 Paper type: Empirical Researc