What is the impact of covid-19 on the Tunisian supply chain? (Preprint)

Abstract

This article aims to provide rough orders of magnitude of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the functioning of Tunisian businesses. Based on a sample of 192 Tunisian companies, the results showed a sharp contraction in inactivity due to the disruption of the various links in the supply chain following the generalized confinement of the population and the closure of borders.

: Overall, this study contributes both to the study of the effect of COVID-19 on the Supply Chain and to the implications of the literature in this area and has important practical implications.

: We therefore sought to find out which links in the supply chain were the most impacted. To do this, the K-means offers the possibility of carrying out the analysis of variance (ANOVA).

The findings suggest that the analysis of the results makes it possible to detect the manifest existence of specific operating models.

: The study then shed light on the situation of the supply chain of companies. Four behavior patterns were detected. Maintaining a fluid and regular relationship with suppliers and customers has pushed companies to implement technological solutions to manage flows and maintain the relationship.

The complexity of supply chains makes the development of commercial transactions fragile. This context offers, on another level, a multitude of opportunities for new structures and new business models. Post-COVID-19 is a major challenge for the national economic fabric. The crisis has encouraged the renewal of management methods. Working remotely and in collaborative mode, revising its processes, automating and securing them, making its information system agile and reliable… become the levers of operational excellence and a tremendous step forward.