Barriers to Visibility in Supply Chains: Challenges and Opportunities of Artificial Intelligence Driven by Industry 4.0 Technologies
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Advancements in e-commerce and Industry 4.0 technologies have significantly improved communication and connectivity in supply chains. These technologies, particularly artificial intelligence driven by Industry 4.0 technologies (AI-IT4.0), have reshaped how products, services, and financial transactions are managed, emphasizing the importance of information sharing among supply chain participants to enhance inventory management, sales, and demand forecasting. However, sharing comprehensive information across supply chain stakeholders presents persistent challenges due to various barriers. This study seeks to review the current understanding of visibility barriers in supply chains, identify key obstacles, and suggest directions for future research. Using the PRISMA methodology, the study analyzed 20 articles, identifying 12 critical barriers to visibility. Bibliometric analysis has revealed growing interest in the topic since 2021, although evidence of collaborative research remains limited. A keyword co-occurrence analysis highlighted strong connections between visibility, supply chain management, sustainability, and artificial intelligence driven by industry 4.0 technologies, such as machine learning, predictive analytics, and digital twins. Future research should empirically investigate visibility barriers and explore the interplay between AI-TI4.0, visibility, and sustainable performance through case studies and quantitative approaches.
Source: Sustainability
DOI: 10.3390/su17072998
Institutions: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), University of Coimbra
Language: English
Subfield: Management Information Systems
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W4408940846