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Research
The role of advanced technologies and supply chain collaboration:
during COVID‑19 on sustainable supply chain performance
Asma Javed1 · Abdul Basit1 · Faisal Ejaz2 · Ayesha Hameed3 · Zita Júlia Fodor4 · Md Billal Hossain5
Received: 24 January 2024 / Accepted: 20 March 2024
© The Author(s) 2024 OPEN
Abstract
The coronavirus has created significant disruptions and exposed supply chain (SC) vulnerabilities. This crisis started a
discussion about SC sustainability and performance. Therefore, the implementation of advanced technologies and sup-
ply chain collaboration could mitigate this disruption with the help of government support and policies. Considering
this situation, this paper examines how COVID-19 influences advanced technologies (Artificial Intelligence, the Internet
of Things, Blockchain, Digital twins, and Big Data Analytics) and supply chain collaboration (SCC) with a moderating role
of government support and policies (GSP) in Pakistan. The study encompasses a comprehensive assessment carried
out via structural equation modeling and data collected from Pakistani companies engaged in SCM or those operating
within the SC divisions of manufacturing enterprises. According to the empirical findings, it is evident that COVID-19
outbreaks have a significant influence on SSCP; However, they do not show a similar impact on advanced technologies
(AI, IoT, Blockchain, DT, and BDA) and supply chain collaboration, the influence of COVID-19 on SSCP was effectively
mediated through advance technologies (AI, IoT, Blockchain, DT, and BDA) and supply chain collaboration. This research
contributes to the existing literature on SSCP by emphasizing the importance of the resource-based view, dynamic capa-
bility view, and institutional theories. SC and logistics managers can apply the theoretical framework proposed in this
study to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic or disruptions in logistics and SC operations, thereby improving
profitability in the context of an epidemic.
1 Introduction
COVID-19, a virus epidemic that began in 2019, is one of the most devastating in the recent past [1, 2]. It triggered the
world’s worst financial collapse after the great depression and crippled every aspect of society and the economy [3–5].
As a result, COVID-19 directly influences the sustainable development targets set for 2030 [6].
The supply chain interruption associated with COVID-19 produced unusual issues worldwide, underlining the
supply chain’s vital role in financial systems and societies [7]. Moreover, as stated by Fortune [8], over ninety-four per
cent of 1000 business entities have experienced SC interruption due to COVID-19. Researchers have discussed that
supply chains encounter the most substantial risks, which include high uncertainties, persistent disruptions, and the
propagation of repercussions [7, 9]. Likewise, Min et al. [10] underlined that some enterprises had lost 80% of their
* Asma Javed, asmaj8270@[Link]; Abdul Basit, basit2811@[Link]; Faisal Ejaz, faisalejaz8661@[Link]; Ayesha Hameed,
ayeshaahameedakbar@[Link]; Zita Júlia Fodor, [Link]@[Link]; Md Billal Hossain, mbhossain@[Link] | 1School
of Economics and Management, Chang’an University, Xi’an, China. 2School of International Relations, Minhaj University, Lahore,
Pakistan. 3Institute of Business Management, Karachi, Pakistan. 4Institute of Economic Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture
and Life Sciences, Godollo 2100, Hungary. 5Business Management and Marketing Department, School of Business and Economics,
Westminster International University in Tashkent, 100047 Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Discover Sustainability (2024) 5:46 | [Link]
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