The Effects of Industry 4.0 Technologies on Supply Chain Management Performance: A Case Study of DHL Zambia

Technological advancements related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution are causing disruptive changes that are widely felt at national, industry, and company levels. Hence this mixed methods study aimed to assess the effects of Industry 4.0 technologies on the supply chain management performance at DHL Zambia. The 50 employees selected out of 56 employees at DHL Zambia through a simple random sampling technique resulted in 50 valid responses translating into a 100% response rate. Empirical data was derived from both the Likert scale questionnaire and the interview guide distributed through Google Forms. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, and inferential statistics such as regression analysis, and correlation analysis while qualitative data was analyzed using a thematic approach. The study revealed that the Internet of Things, Blockchain, Big Data Analytics, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality as Industry 4.0 technologies used at DHL Zambia. The study also found that on-time delivery, order cycle time, inventory turnover, perfect order rate, supply chain cost, lead time, and forecast accuracy, are the supply chain management metrics adopted at DHL Zambia. The multiple regression test results found a significant effect of Industry 4.0 technologies on supply chain management metrics (P>0.05). The study recommended that managers at DHL Zambia prioritize training skill development initiatives aimed at equipping the workforce with the technical competencies required for leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies effectively. This will ensure that the workforce is prepared to embrace digital transformation and adapt to the changing demands of the industry.