IS THE CONCEPT OF BIG DATA RELEVANT IN SUPPLY CHAIN LOGISTICS? A REVIEW
Date
2023-11-30
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Saudi Digital Library
Abstract
In this era of unprecedented digital data generation spanning the past two decades, the concept of Big Data (BD) has emerged as a powerful phenomenon. This paradigm shift extends to the healthcare sector, where a plethora of data originates from diverse sources, including electronic patient records and medical equipment. Despite the growing interest in applying big data analytics (BDA) to supply chain management (SCM) from both academia and industry, its exploration within the healthcare domain remains limited. Unlike its counterparts in business and manufacturing, the healthcare supply chain has yet to fully realize the potential of BDA, leading to performance disparities and the underutilization of best practices. In response, this review endeavors to delve into the existing literature concerning the application of big data in the healthcare supply chain, aiming to discern its pertinence. Through meticulous filtering, 56 primary studies were meticulously scrutinized and categorized from an initial pool of 5,626, in pursuit of addressing four key research inquiries. The findings underscore the transformative potential of big data within healthcare, with procurement, demand forecasting, inventory management, logistics, and quality assurance emerging as prominent applications. This potential is nurtured by a conducive environment shaped by various facilitating factors, although certain inhibitory elements are also evident. By offering a comprehensive analysis of the literature, this study not only highlights the focal points of ongoing research but also establishes a bridge between theoretical understanding and practical implementation. It serves as a foundation for future research endeavors, shedding light on pivotal areas and paving the way for a deeper comprehension of these domains in practice.
Description
The recent literature highlights the transformative impact of BDA on healthcare organizations. The
systematic literature review (SLR) emphasizes BDA's significance as a milestone for healthcare
entities. Despite limited research directly related to the healthcare supply chain, similarities with
other fields suggest similar BDA applications. The content analysis revealed studies focused on
BDA's potential for the healthcare supply chain, covering areas like supplier and inventory
management, demand forecasting, decision-making, and quality assurance. The findings indicate
BDA's capacity to unveil patterns in vast data, aiding healthcare managers in knowledge
extraction. The SRL highlights that human capital investment is crucial for BDA's potential
exploitation. While BDA offers numerous opportunities, this study identified challenges such as
technical issues, privacy concerns, and talent shortages. Despite extensive BDA research, further
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investigation is needed to comprehend its impact on the healthcare supply chain, including applied
approaches and outcomes.
Keywords
Supply Chain, Operations, Healthcare, Big data, Supply Chain Management, Management