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Autonomous and IoT‐driven intralogistics for Industry 4.0 warehouses: A thematic analysis of the literature

Author

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  • Abhay K. Grover
  • Muhammad Hasan Ashraf

Abstract

Eyeing superior operational performance, transportation, and warehousing management, researchers have turned their much‐needed attention to autonomous and IoT‐driven intralogistics systems. Despite its potential, a systematic evaluation of its overall business needs and the criteria for its success at each stage of adoption is missing in the literature. Using the business analysis framework, augmented by the technology adoption model, this study seeks to provide the business context for adopting autonomous and IoT‐driven intralogistics by identifying business requirements and critical success factors for such systems. We thematically analyze 85 recent research articles on autonomous and IoT‐driven intralogistics systems to identify business requirements that are linked to the mission of maximizing operational profit for the warehousing and storage industry. Then, using the identified business requirements as a base, we thematically analyze those 85 research articles again to identify critical success factors at different stages of technology adoption, namely information, analysis, acquisition, and utilization. We use the findings to develop propositions for future researchers. These findings provide a foundation for developing empirical, descriptive, and normative research on adopting and managing these systems for the warehousing and storage industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Abhay K. Grover & Muhammad Hasan Ashraf, 2024. "Autonomous and IoT‐driven intralogistics for Industry 4.0 warehouses: A thematic analysis of the literature," Transportation Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 63(1), pages 42-61, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:transj:v:63:y:2024:i:1:p:42-61
    DOI: 10.1002/tjo3.12002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ashraf, Muhammad Hasan & Chen, Yuwen & Yalcin, Mehmet G., 2022. "Minding Braess Paradox amid third-party logistics hub capacity expansion triggered by demand surge," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    2. Mustafa Güller & Elif Karakaya & Yilmaz Uygun & Tobias Hegmanns, 2018. "Simulation-based performance evaluation of the cellular transport system," Journal of Simulation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(3), pages 225-237, July.
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    4. Lamballais, T. & Roy, D. & De Koster, M.B.M., 2017. "Estimating performance in a Robotic Mobile Fulfillment System," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 256(3), pages 976-990.
    5. Fragapane, Giuseppe & de Koster, René & Sgarbossa, Fabio & Strandhagen, Jan Ola, 2021. "Planning and control of autonomous mobile robots for intralogistics: Literature review and research agenda," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 294(2), pages 405-426.
    6. ManMohan S. Sodhi & Christopher S. Tang, 2018. "Corporate social sustainability in supply chains: a thematic analysis of the literature," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(1-2), pages 882-901, January.
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    8. Giuseppe Fragapane & Dmitry Ivanov & Mirco Peron & Fabio Sgarbossa & Jan Ola Strandhagen, 2022. "Increasing flexibility and productivity in Industry 4.0 production networks with autonomous mobile robots and smart intralogistics," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 308(1), pages 125-143, January.
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    1. Mastura Jaafar & Kashif Nawaz Khan & Ahmad Salman, 2026. "A systematic review and framework for organizational agility antecedents towards industry 4.0," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 76(1), pages 487-512, February.
    2. Y. Zhang & A. Haddud, 2025. "Exploring Perceived Usefulness of Using Autonomous Trucks in Logistics," Transportation Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 64(1), January.

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