BACKGROUND
The hospital supply chain is still under-optimized and fraught with operational challenges, prompting hospital managers to increasingly invest in emerging digital technologies. However, there is a critical need for effective deployment that aligns with the diverse operational challenges of hospitals, rather than mere technology-oriented focus. The intricate interplay between digitalization and hospital contextual factors has yet to be illustrated, often leading to resource misallocation in digitalization efforts.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to reassess the necessity of pursuing advanced levels of digitalization in enhancing supply chain performance and to delineate potential strategies for hospital managers to customize digital technology adoption to their unique operational contexts.
METHODS
In collaboration with the Chinese Association for Big Data in Hospital Logistics and Supply Chain, this research collected survey data from 144 hospitals across China. Employing the fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) method, the study explored the configurational effects of digital technology adoption alongside other contextual hospital factors, such as size, supply chain complexity, integration, and outsourced operations, through the lens of the resource-based view.
RESULTS
The findings suggest that the mere adoption of digital technologies does not guarantee superior performance in hospital supply chains. High-performance configurations are characterized by the combination of robust internal integration, strategic outsourcing, and extensive use of digital technologies, irrespective of hospital size and external supply chain complexity. Conversely, small hospitals exhibit low performance due to inadequate integration and limited digital technology use, despite efforts to manage supply chain complexities. Large hospitals may also underperform when faced with high complexity and insufficient integration, even with significant technological investments.
CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrates that a customized approach to optimizing supply chain performance is crucial to align with each hospital's unique operational challenges. Hospital managers should judiciously pursue digital technologies, directing more resources towards enhancing operational management, such as improving supply chain integration and reducing complexities.