The role of Artificial Intelligence networks in sustainable supply chain finance for food and drink industry

ABSTRACT

In the last decade, food and drink supply chain management has become an important part of global operations strategy. The global food and drink industries (FDIs) is establishing supply chain operations across countries as a result of increasing demand, this expansion has created challenges in coordinating operations that connect multi-suppliers, one as such is the financial enabler for the multi-layered supply chain network. However, literature on artificial intelligence (AI) in FDIs is limited, this study explores AI theory in supply chain networks and alternative supply chain financing for the FDIs. This study proposes a new conceptual framework based on theoretical contributions identified through literature, a conceptual framework is established and further developed to a meta-framework. This study explored the set-theoretic comparative approach for data analysis, the outcomes of this research suggest that the probable contributions of supply chain networks driven by AI technologies provide a sustainable financing stream for the food and drink supply chain.

KEYWORDS:

• Artificial intelligence
• food and drink industries
• supply chain finance
• sustainability
• supply networks

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Femi Olan

Femi Olan, PhD is a Senior Lecturer in Business Information Management at Northumbria University, UK. He obtained his PhD degree from Plymouth University, UK. He has teaching and industry experience in the field of information systems. His research interests focus on knowledge sharing, organisational factors, and performance management in organisations. He has collaborated on numerous research projects for, among others, development agencies. He has authored numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and books.

Shaofeng Liu

Shaofeng Liu, PhD is Professor of Operations Management and Decision-making. She obtained her Ph.D. degree from Loughborough University, UK. Her main research interests and expertise are in knowledge-based techniques to support business decision-making, particularly in the areas of knowledge management, integrated decision support, digital business, and quantitative decision methods. She is a senior editor for Cogent Business and Management, an open access journal. She has undertaken several influential research projects funded by UK research councils and the European Commission with a total value of over €40 million. She is currently the PI and Co-I for four EU projects under the Horizon 2020 programme. She has published over 150 peer-reviewed research papers.

Jana Suklan

Jana Suklan, PhD is an Associate Researcher at the Translational and Clinical Research Institute at Newcastle University. She works across the University and National Institute for Health Research Newcastle In Vitro Diagnostics Co-operative. She holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Statistics from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Her thesis covered the application of econometric models for the analysis of synergetic effects within channels of integrated marketing communications. Her current work focuses on evaluations of novel medical devices from very early stages to adoption. She is professionally active in several research areas including social research, business and management, innovation, and healthcare.

Uchitha Jayawickrama

Uchitha Jayawickrama, PhD is a Lecturer in Information Systems (which is equivalent to Assistant Professor) at the Information Management Group, School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University, UK. He obtained his PhD degree from Plymouth University, UK. He has research, teaching, and industry experience in the field of information systems, particularly in the areas of enterprise systems, cloud ERP, business process automation, knowledge management, knowledge management systems, digitisation (digital innovation & productivity), business intelligence, data analytics, and business process re-engineering. He has published research in various renowned conferences, books, and journals. He is involved in several research projects internally and externally. He is a reviewer for several journals and international conferences. He has editorial experience in various journals. He is a member of several scientific/technical/program committees.

Emmanuel Ogiemwonyi Arakpogun

Emmanuel Ogiemwonyi Arakpogun, PhD is a Lecturer in International Business Management at Newcastle Business School. His research interests lie at the nexus of the liberalisation of the telecommunications market and universal access policies as a combined strategy for closing the digital divides in emerging economies. He is a reviewer for Information Technology and People.