IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i24p16606-d1295115.html

Streamlined Resilient Post-COVID-19 Supply Chain in Industry 4.0: A Case Study on Romania

Author

Listed:
  • Alexandru Ionescu

    (Department of Commerce, Economic Integration and Business Administration, Romanian-American University, 012101 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Ana Maria Mihaela Iordache

    (Department of Informatics, Statistics and Mathematics, Romanian-American University, 012101 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Alexandra Andreea Mironescu

    (Department of Management, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Vlad Gabriel Cârstea

    (Department of Commerce, Economic Integration and Business Administration, Romanian-American University, 012101 Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digitization of the logistics industry, exceeding the expectations of some companies. Ensuring customer satisfaction throughout the online ordering and delivery process has major implications for their profitability and market position. This study aims to classify firms in the logistics sector based on their financial accounting performance and determine if software designed for the logistics sector can improve their performance. By using advanced data analysis methods such as cluster analysis and neural network training, the study identifies three distinct classes. One company from a lower class was given a scenario for implementing digitization, improving its performance indicators, and enabling its movement to a higher class. The practical implications of the study are related to the domestic and international business environment, providing an overview of the logistics sector in Romania and a direction for growth for companies operating in the sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexandru Ionescu & Ana Maria Mihaela Iordache & Alexandra Andreea Mironescu & Vlad Gabriel Cârstea, 2023. "Streamlined Resilient Post-COVID-19 Supply Chain in Industry 4.0: A Case Study on Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-26, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:24:p:16606-:d:1295115
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/24/16606/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/24/16606/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. May McMaster & Charlie Nettleton & Christeen Tom & Belanda Xu & Cheng Cao & Ping Qiao, 2020. "Risk Management: Rethinking Fashion Supply Chain Management for Multinational Corporations in Light of the COVID-19 Outbreak," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Katarzyna Grzybowska & Agnieszka Stachowiak, 2022. "Global Changes and Disruptions in Supply Chains—Preliminary Research to Sustainable Resilience of Supply Chains," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-15, June.
    3. Sanjib Biswas & Aparajita Sanyal & Darko Božanić & Adis Puška & Dragan Marinković, 2023. "Critical Success Factors for 5G Technology Adaptation in Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-23, March.
    4. Summer K. Mohamed & Sandra Haddad & Mahmoud Barakat & Bojan Rosi, 2023. "Blockchain Technology Adoption for Improved Environmental Supply Chain Performance: The Mediation Effect of Supply Chain Resilience, Customer Integration, and Green Customer Information Sharing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, May.
    5. Csilla Bartucz & László Buics & Edit Süle, 2023. "Lack of Collaboration on the CEP Market and the Underlying Reasons—A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-22, June.
    6. Mohamed Amr Sultan & Tomaž Kramberger & Mahmoud Barakat & Ahmed Hussein Ali, 2023. "Barriers to Applying Last-Mile Logistics in the Egyptian Market: An Extension of the Technology Acceptance Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-25, August.
    7. Anna Uliano & Marcello Stanco & Concetta Nazzaro, 2023. "Short Food Supply Chain and Resilience: An Analysis during COVID-19 Pandemic in Inner Areas of Campania Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-13, August.
    8. Mohd Khairulnizam Zahari & Norhayati Zakuan & Mohd Effandi Yusoff & Muhamad Zameri Mat Saman & Mohd Noor Azli Ali Khan & Farrah Merlinda Muharam & Teh Zaharah Yaacob, 2023. "Viable Supply Chain Management toward Company Sustainability during COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-20, February.
    9. Weijia Li & Ziyang Liu, 2023. "Social, Environmental, and Governance Factors on Supply-Chain Performance with Mediating Technology Adoption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-15, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Alexandra Constantin & Maxim Cetulean & Cezara-Georgiana Radu & Edi-Cristian Dumitra & Andreea Teodora Iacob, 2025. "The Impact of Digitalisation on Supply Chain Competitiveness: A Multi-Country Comparative Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-14, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Haldun Çolak & Bilal Saraç & Celal Hakan Kağnicioğlu, 2025. "Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience via Digital Technologies in Knowledge Economy with an Emphasis on Human Capital: An Integrated Systematic Literature Review and SF-AHP Approach," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(3), pages 11547-11582, September.
    2. Fang, Da & Guo, Yan, 2022. "Flow of goods to the shock of COVID-19 and toll-free highway policy: Evidence from logistics data in China," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    3. Priom Mahmud & Sanjoy Kumar Paul & Abdullahil Azeem & Priyabrata Chowdhury, 2021. "Evaluating Supply Chain Collaboration Barriers in Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-28, July.
    4. Beata Milewska & Dariusz Milewski, 2022. "Implications of Increasing Fuel Costs for Supply Chain Strategy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-14, September.
    5. Naimur Rahman Chowdhury & Farhatul Janan & Priom Mahmud & Sharmine Akther Liza & Sanjoy Kumar Paul, 2024. "Assessing strategies to mitigate the impacts of a pandemic in apparel supply chains," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 38-54, March.
    6. Silva, Emmanuel Sirimal & Bonetti, Francesca, 2021. "Digital humans in fashion: Will consumers interact?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    7. Larissa Batrancea, 2021. "The Nexus between Financial Performance and Equilibrium: Empirical Evidence on Publicly Traded Companies from the Global Financial Crisis Up to the COVID-19 Pandemic," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-12, May.
    8. Ananna Paul & Suvash C. Saha, 2025. "A Systematic Literature Review on Flexible Strategies and Performance Indicators for Supply Chain Resilience," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 26(1), pages 207-231, March.
    9. Alaâ Eddine El Moussaoui & Taoufiq El Moussaoui & Brahim Benbba & Loqman Chakir & Anicia Jaegler & Zineb El Andaloussi, 2025. "Sustainable effects of information sharing between distribution logistics actors: a qualitative case study," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(5), pages 12305-12323, May.
    10. El-Awady Attia & Ali Alarjani & Md. Sharif Uddin & Ahmed Farouk Kineber, 2023. "Determining the Stationary Enablers of Resilient and Sustainable Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-23, February.
    11. Murad Samhouri & Majdoleen Abualeenein & Farah Al-Atrash, 2025. "Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience Through a Fuzzy AHP and TOPSIS to Mitigate Transportation Disruption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-31, August.
    12. Michał Borychowski & Sebastian Stępień & Anna Matuszczak & Agnieszka Sapa & Katarzyna Smędzik-Ambroży & Adam Majchrzak, 2026. "Are farms in short food supply chains more resilient to external shocks? The assessment of Polish farmers’ perception," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 14(1), pages 1-18, December.
    13. Lingyu Zheng & Han Chen & Wenjia Zheng, 2024. "Exploring Environmental, Social, and Governance Factors Affecting Supply Chain Resilience: From Employees’ Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-18, December.
    14. Yanfeng Liu & Shanshan Zhao & Shuxian Zhao, 2025. "Adoption of digital logistics platforms in the maritime logistics industry: based on diffusion of innovations and extended technology acceptance," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, December.
    15. Adnan Al-Banna & Zaid Ashraf Rana & Mohammed Yaqot & Brenno Menezes, 2023. "Interconnectedness between Supply Chain Resilience, Industry 4.0, and Investment," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-23, August.
    16. Rosanna Fornasiero & Tullio A. M. Tolio, 2025. "Digital supply chains for ecosystem resilience: a framework for the Italian case," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 210-225, March.
    17. Meng, Lin & Lv, Wangyong & Yuan, George Xianzhi & Wang, Huiqi, 2023. "The dynamic risk profiles and management strategies in supply chain coopetition under altruistic preference," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    18. Duong An & Duy Tran Le Anh & Huong Le Thi Cam & Rajkishore Nayak & Majo George & Loan Bui Thi Cam & Nhu-Y Ngoc Hoang & Duy Tan Nguyen & Huy Truong Quang, 2024. "Navigating global supply networks: a strategic framework for resilience in the apparel industry," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 523-543, June.
    19. Mohammad Iman Estehghaghi & Esmaeil Mazroui Nasrabadi & Zahra Sadeqi Arani, 2026. "Beyond resilience: an examination of critical success factors for viable supply chains," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 1-24, June.
    20. Pengfei Cheng & Yuhao Wang, 2024. "Impact of intellectual property protection on enterprise supply chain resilience: empirical evidence from China’s intellectual property pilot and demonstration city policy," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-18, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:24:p:16606-:d:1295115. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.