Year: 2025
Type: editorial
Abstract: Supply chain disruption has become one of the defining challenges of the 21st century, catalysed by a series of major geopolitical and global health events – including Brexit (2016–2020), the U.S.–China trade war (2018–2025?), the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2023), the Russia–Ukraine conflict (2022–2025?), the Israel–Palestine conflict (2023–2025?) and the Israel–Iran conflict (June 2025-?). Among these, the pandemic revealed the vulnerabilities of lean, cost-driven supply chains built around “Just-In-Time” inventory models (Park et al., 2024). Although efficient in stable environments, these models collapsed under systemic shocks, revealing critical weaknesses in flexibility and response capacity. The post-pandemic reality now demands a re-evaluation of traditional supply chain metrics. Resilience – alongside cost and efficiency – has emerged as a vital strategic priority. This shift is reflected in rising trends of reshoring, nearshoring and friendshoring as firms seek to localise or regionalise supply bases to mitigate uncertainty (Moradlou et al., 2025; Wu, 2025). Natural disasters and pandemics disrupt virtually all supply networks, from critical medical supplies to everyday consumer goods. However, few studies have thoroughly demonstrated how advanced technologies contribute to building resilient supply chains by strengthening key resilience factors. Supply chain resilience (SCRes) emerges as a vital strategy for mitigating the impact of such disruptions, achieved through the strategic enhancement of resilience capabilities using technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics (BDA) (Singh et al., 2025a, b).Russia's invasion of Ukraine since February 2022 and its disruption of energy markets provided further reasons to question the viability of an international system of trade and specialisation, in which economic shocks are transmitted through supply chains and trade dependencies can be weaponised. Mounting geopolitical tensions between the United States and China were evident prior to the pandemic and the Ukraine war, but the calls for “decoupling” the two economies have since intensified, with material effects on the global business environment (Thakur-Weigold and Miroudot, 2024; Teece, 2022). Simultaneously, persistent short-termism in trade agreements and increasing climate-induced disruptions (Akalin et al., 2022) further emphasise the urgency of enhancing SCRes.Proactive supply chain risk management empowers organisations to anticipate disruptions and implement mitigation strategies, thereby enhancing resilience and ensuring business continuity in volatile market conditions (Shahsavari et al., 2025). In this context, the traditional reactive approach is no longer sufficient – proactive strategies for risk anticipation and mitigation must become foundational. Organisations must embed agility, robustness and adaptability into supply chain design – not as reactive measures but as core operational principles. As Bhatnagar and Dixit (2025) observe, “a technology roadmap with a perspective of pre- and post-disruption phases has not been reported” as of this special issue. This underscores a critical gap in the current literature – and an opportunity to align methodological innovation with actionable, end-to-end resilience planning.Digital transformation is a critical enabler of adaptive, intelligent and resilient supply chains. Emerging technologies – such as AI, machine learning (ML), blockchain, BDA, the Internet of Things (IoT) and cyber-resilience frameworks – are enhancing visibility, responsiveness and predictive capabilities across global networks (Iftikhar et al., 2024). Among these, AI and ML stand out for their ability to anticipate disruptions, optimise resource allocation and support intelligent automation (Gabsi, 2024; Cioffi et al., 2020). When aligned with strategic performance indicators such as resilience, robustness and stability, these technologies enable supply chains to absorb shocks and maintain a long-term competitive advantage (Padovano and Ivanov, 2025).Despite the inherently complex and multidimensional nature of SCRes, its systematic analysis using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods remains limited and dispersed. Nonetheless, SCRes clearly signifies a multi-criteria challenge, demanding the careful balance of agility, flexibility, risk mitigation and sustainability. Applying MCDM approaches is therefore essential to produce structured, data-driven insights that support informed and resilient decision-making. Among these, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the analytic network process (ANP) stand out for their intuitive logic, adaptability and real-world applicability. AHP, in particular, remains one of the most widely used MCDM techniques globally (Mu and Cooper, 2022; Haktanır, 2023), often serving as the basis for hybrid models. Motivated by this relevance, we launched this special issue to explore the theme: “AHP/ANP in supply chain resilience in the era of digital enterprise.”This special issue comprises 14 research papers that have undergone the double-anonymised peer review process of the Journal of Enterprise Information Management.Organisations are increasingly compelled to adopt proactive resilience strategies to cope with the rising complexity and volatility of modern supply chains. This increased uncertainty and volatility require not only recognising the antecedents of SCRes but also understanding how digital technologies can be aligned with various stages of disruption management. In this context, Bhatnagar and Dixit (2025) identify agility, collaboration, flexibility, design, sourcing and supply chain understanding as the antecedents of SCRes. They consider AI, ML, BDA, augmented reality, virtual reality, cloud computing, IoT, system integration, simulation, additive manufacturing, cyber-physical systems and autonomous robots as the digital technologies that enable SCRes. Using interpretive structural modelling and the ANP – single-valued neutrosophic technique for order of preference by similarity to the ideal solution – they quantify the impact of each digital technology. They find that data-driven technologies and additive manufacturing have the highest impact on SCRes. They provide a technology roadmap comprising the building blocks of Industry 4.0, base-level technologies, technologies specifically useful prior to disruption and technologies that contribute to SCRes post-disruption.As supply chains face increasing volatility from global disruptions, digital technologies are becoming critical enablers of resilience and agility. In particular, the integration of intelligent systems offers new avenues for proactive risk mitigation and operational stability. Singh et al. (2025a, b) examine how AI, ML and BDA contribute to enhancing SCRes amid ongoing disruptions. Using an integrated AHP–Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) approach, the research identifies and prioritises key sub-factors through expert interviews in the fast-moving consumer goods sector. Findings highlight AI as the most influential technology for boosting efficiency and resilience, followed by demand forecasting. The DEMATEL analysis distinguishes causal and effect relationships among sub-factors, offering strategic insights. The study contributes to the supply chain field by mapping specific technologies to resilience-enhancing factors, thereby guiding practitioners in the targeted adoption of technologies for improved supply chain robustness.As organisations transition towards digital supply chain management (DSCM), effectively managing risks becomes essential for ensuring operational success and technological integration. Identifying and prioritising the right mitigation strategies can significantly enhance agility, performance and resilience. Virmani et al. (2025) evaluate risk mitigation strategies (RMS) essential for adopting DSCM to enhance performance and organisational excellence. Using the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (F-AHP), the research identifies and ranks key RMS categories: cybersecurity and data protection, digitalisation and organisation, supply chain visibility and transparency, data quality and management and change management and alliance. The leading strategies include developing a roadmap for digital systems and investing in technologies for integrated data flow. Sensitivity analysis confirms the model's robustness. The study offers practical insights for industry professionals, helping prioritise critical RMS and enabling agile, responsive and high-performing digital supply chains amid uncertainty.Smart warehousing goes beyond robots in warehouses. It utilises advanced technologies, including IoT, AI and cloud computing, alongside robotics, to automate and optimise warehouse operations. Digital technologies and data-driven decision support systems improve the efficiency, accuracy and responsiveness of warehouses. Ali et al. (2025) propose a framework for third-party logistics service providers to facilitate the adoption of smart warehousing technologies. The authors leverage the technology-organisation-environment (TOE) theoretical model to understand and predict how smart warehousing could be adopted and implemented in third-party logistics services. They highlight the significant efficiency gains introduced by real-time data collection and analysis, which improve the visibility of inventory levels, orders and logistics, enabling proactive decision-making and swift responses to disruptions.In light of increasing disruptions across global supply networks, the construction industry is exploring emerging technologies to build more resilient supply chains. Addressing this need, Pandey and Pathak (2025) propose an integrated model for blockchain technology (BCT) adoption and resilience in construction supply chains (CSCs) using an extended TOE framework that incorporates a resilience dimension. It identifies 21 key factors influencing BCT adoption and SCRes via a literature review and expert input. Using the F-AHP, the study finds that technological and resilience-related factors are the most important for achieving SCRes. Sensitivity analysis confirms the model's robustness. This novel approach provides valuable guidance for construction firms seeking to enhance resilience and competitiveness through BCT adoption, thereby supporting both academic research and practical strategy development in the construction sector.The resilience of a healthcare supply chain requires that the system withstands, adapts to and recovers from disruptions in a way that improves its performance above the levels it had prior to the disruption. Such disruptions could originate from natural disasters, cyberattacks or geopolitical tensions. A resilient healthcare supply chain would continue to deliver critical services and essential medical supplies. Digital transformation can enable the resilience of healthcare supply chains through the use of IoT and real-time tracking for increased visibility, advanced analytics for forecasting and optimisation and blockchain for guaranteed traceability and transparency. Seker and Aydin (2025) investigate the barriers to digital transformation in the healthcare supply chains of developing countries. They find that the most important barriers for digital transformation in healthcare supply chains are based on organisational and technological issues. They rank “low support from top managers”, “the lack of digital culture” and “information/data safety and privacy” as the top three barriers and suggest that they could be overcome by top managers' making breakthroughs and providing incentives.As environmental regulations tighten and sustainability becomes a strategic imperative, effective management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) has gained critical importance in supply chains. Selecting the right remanufacturing partners is a key challenge, requiring a balance between environmental, economic and social priorities. In this context, decision-makers need structured tools to navigate complex criteria and ensure resilient, sustainable operations. Ajaygopal et al. (2025) propose a structured framework to help supply chain managers select suitable remanufacturers for WEEE, emphasising sustainability and resilience. Using a three-phase approach – literature review, expert surveys and modified analytic hierarchy process (M-AHP) – the study identifies 53 sub-criteria grouped into seven main categories, including sustainability resource management (SRM), environmental financial evaluation (EFE), socially responsible advantages (SRA) and resilience capabilities (REC). M-AHP analysis highlights these four as the most essential for decision-making. The framework supports the selection of the right remanufacturer partner, regulatory compliance and the development of sustainable circular supply chains. It also offers insights for remanufacturers to improve their capabilities in a competitive, sustainability-driven market.Circular supply chains aim to eliminate waste, extend product life and keep materials in use as long as possible. Achieving this aim depends on data, connectivity and intelligence offered by digital technologies. For example, IoT contributes to circularity by enabling the tracking of product usage, which could facilitate predictive maintenance to extend product life. Blockchain applications strengthen the trust and traceability of, especially, recycled and remanufactured products. Ayyildiz and Erdoğan (2025) first assess the resilience of circular supply chains considering digital technologies such as predictive and prescriptive analytics, 3D printing, IoT and blockchain. They develop a comprehensive decision hierarchy of 28 subcriteria under operational, environmental, economic and social resilience. The top five criteria are total supply chain management cost (economic), fulfilment (operational), supply chain agility (operational), flexibility (operational) and earnings before interest and taxes (economic).As shared mobility platforms continue to disrupt traditional transportation models, digital car-sharing enterprises are facing increasing exposure to supply chain risks stemming from technological dependencies, fluctuations in user demand and sustainability pressures. Building resilience in these emerging service-based supply chains requires a nuanced understanding of the factors that contribute to long-term stability and responsiveness. Karadayi-Usta and Kadaifci (2025) identify and prioritise factors that enhance SCRes in digital car-sharing enterprises. Using a systematic literature review, followed by expert assessments, the study applies the AHP and the MACBETH methods to compare factor rankings. Results show both methods yield similar outcomes, highlighting the importance of sustainability's triple bottom line – economic, social and environmental aspects – in building resilient supply chains. Readiness and agility also emerged as key factors, while digitalisation, though ranked lowest overall, had a top-performing sub-factor. This is the first study to explore SCRes in digital car-sharing enterprises using AHP and MACBETH, offering valuable insights for strategic planning.As digital transformation and sustainability become pressing imperatives in global food supply chains, ensuring food safety while addressing systemic inefficiencies has grown increasingly complex. Traditional supply networks often fall short in managing environmental, operational and technological uncertainties, particularly in sectors such as perishable food production and high-risk industries. In response, recent research has begun to explore integrated, data-driven decision-making frameworks that can support more sustainable and resilient practices. Ortíz-Barrios et al. (2025) present an integrated approach to managing sustainability in digital manufacturing supply chain systems (DMSCS) within the food industry, addressing persistent inefficiencies that threaten food safety. Focusing on the pork supply chain, the research employs the intuitionistic fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (IF-AHP) to prioritise sustainability criteria under uncertainty, while IF-DEMATEL identifies key sustainability drivers by incorporating expert hesitancy. The combined compromise solution (CoCoSo) method is then used to detect critical weaknesses. Findings reveal “location” as the most influential criterion and “manufacturing capacity” as the key dispatcher. This novel methodology offers a comprehensive toolset for improving sustainable supplier management and digital transformation in food manufacturing supply chains.Amid growing consumer demand for transparency, sustainability and food safety, agri-food supply chains face increasing pressure to modernise. These challenges are compounded by inefficiencies, traceability gaps and frequent food safety incidents across global networks. In this context, emerging digital technologies – particularly blockchain – offer promising solutions to enhance visibility and accountability throughout the food supply chain, from farm to fork. The study by İndap and Tanyaş (2025) explores the application of BCT in the agri-food supply chain, with a focus on improving traceability and food safety. Using semi-structured interviews within the cherry supply chain and the AHP, the research identifies digital investment priorities and evaluates stakeholder awareness and acceptance of BCT. Applying the supply chain operations reference (SCOR) model, the study examines the suitability of process models for BCT implementation. Findings reveal persistent issues in agri-food supply chains, such as food loss, rising costs and safety concerns, while highlighting BCT's potential to ensure transparency, data integrity and traceability. The analytic framework offers broader across the agri-food manufacturing such as face challenges in building SCRes to their complex cost of disruptions and global The COVID-19 pandemic further vulnerabilities in such the need for strategies to their In response, have begun to investigate targeted frameworks for enhancing resilience in these et al. (2025) examine key and strategies to enhance SCRes in manufacturing, with a focus on an in the Using the neutrosophic analytic hierarchy process identify and prioritise core and strategic Findings reveal that and risk and and supply are the most vital while resilient supply chain and sustainable and resilient are the leading As one of the first studies it provides insights for firms seeking to enhance resilience, mitigate risks and adaptive, sustainable operations amid global supply chain and (2025) develop a comprehensive evaluation framework for in the on It key performance identifies indicators and and importance using the AHP based on expert input. and (2025) a novel of financial and supplier approaches and business process Findings highlight financial and stability as critical in mitigating risks such as disruptions or The authors the gap in models by offering a structured, multidimensional approach to supplier supporting resilience and informed decision-making in the supply the of healthcare logistics, ensuring a resilient and responsive supply chain is particularly disruptions or the strategic importance of et al. (2025) develop a novel methodological approach to optimise The authors the critical of selection in an efficient and resilient It a novel decision-making framework that the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and the fuzzy to evaluate and rank potential are using while Findings highlight supply conditions and resilience as the most important factors. The approach provides a stable and model for managers to informed As the first study to MCDM methods to it offers both methodological innovation and practical guidance for enhancing collection special issue to and innovation by offering novel insights for both academic and industry practitioners the of SCRes. this we research addressing decision-making challenges to SCRes in the digital with on studies AHP, ANP or their with MCDM real-world applications and methodological with were sectors from healthcare and construction to food systems and advanced manufacturing, the 14 studies in this issue the growing importance of structured, data-driven approaches to managing supply chain complexity and The emphasise that resilience is no longer a post-disruption but a strategic – one that must be throughout the supply chain through intelligent design, digital integration and systemic these studies both methodological and practical They AHP, ANP and hybrid MCDM frameworks to the challenges of resilience insights for both and the highlight a broader digital technologies, such as AI, blockchain, IoT and BDA, are not tools for efficiency but are also vital enablers of proactive risk adaptability and long-term sustainability. As global supply chains continue to face the frameworks and insights offer a for building more resilient, and intelligent geopolitical – most the Russia–Ukraine war and the tensions between and – have revealed the of global supply networks. These have energy trade and the of critical systemic uncertainty across Such conditions the need for supply chains that are not only but also to multidimensional and In this context, digital technologies with structured MCDM frameworks is no longer – it is such as the AHP especially, the ANP are particularly to decision-making environments, and their broader adoption can significantly enhance resilience in volatile geopolitical is of research has been in leading including the Journal of the Journal of and Supply and the Journal of recent on the application of (MCDM) methods in supply chains, with a focus on blockchain and big data analytics into supply chain sustainable and enabling digital supply chains through advanced data has as of the Journal of the for a and has been a for such as the Journal of and the Journal of Enterprise Information is of Supply for and Supply predictive and prescriptive analytics models that support strategic and operational supply chain on improving decision-making in the and manufacturing sectors in academic and is of the Journal of the of Supply and of and Journal is of the of from through as a and in from in a the of the of from through research include criteria decision analysis and operations research management has and we extend to the for their and support throughout the development of this special issue. and guidance have been in this to It has been a to with – particularly and as as the for development of the (AHP) and the as as in their global As of these among the most widely in the field of multi-criteria decision making
Authors: Birsen Karpak, Emel Aktas, Ilker Topcu
Language: English
Subfield: Strategy and Management
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4416937270