The digitalization of supply chain management in Romanian companies: an introductive research

Abstract

Abstract This study aims to identify from supply chain professionals employed in different Romanian companies from various industries what the digitalization status of the supply chain is. Companies, with regard to their size and industry, are not fully digitalized and this is because their focus usually lays on their main activity line and less on the rest of the processes involving supply chain management. Digitalization is adopted differently and most companies face different problems in adopting and implementing new technology. Based on a semi-structured interview with in-depth questions, this paper investigates the digitalization status of selected firms’ supply chain management systems. Results aim to understand the future trends in the supply chain in Romania and identify some best practices with practical relevance for managers. The interviewed managers managed to bring up the digitalization state of their companies supply chain practices, what are the main barriers they need to overcome to remain competitive and also how they manage change within the employees ranks. The study identified within different industries that supply chain practices are partially digitalized and require constant development and improvement. Based on the discussions revealed by our study, professionals and academics can further explore what the implementation of cutting edge or disruptive technology involves for supply chain management in the broad context of digital transformation.