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Digitalization of the healthcare supply chain: A roadmap to generate benefits and effectively support healthcare delivery

Author

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  • Martin Beaulieu

    (HEC Montréal - HEC Montréal)

  • Omar Bentahar

    (CEREFIGE - Centre Européen de Recherche en Economie Financière et Gestion des Entreprises - UL - Université de Lorraine)

Abstract

The healthcare supply chain lags far behind supply chains in other industries in terms of performance and the deployment of best practices. Managers could bridge this gap and improve the performance of the healthcare supply chain by implementing digitalization initiatives. However, the erratic, disconnected digitalization of practices already deployed in the healthcare sector makes it difficult to maximize the potential of these initiatives. In order to generate the greatest benefits from digitalization while improving healthcare delivery, this article sets out a roadmap for implementing technologies. Unlike previous studies that focused on the entire supply chain or had been limited to patient flow, this study adopts the perspective of the hospital as a central launching point for digitalization initiatives. The roadmap, which involves both internal and external digitalization trajectories, is based on a research methodology that combines observations with an umbrella review of literature. This methodology enables us to capture the research challenges associated with the healthcare supply chain and show how digitalization initiatives can address them. The digitalization proposals put forward are structured in terms of priority and centered on hospitals. These proposals can help managers make improvements to the supply chain and also clinical flows

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Beaulieu & Omar Bentahar, 2021. "Digitalization of the healthcare supply chain: A roadmap to generate benefits and effectively support healthcare delivery," Post-Print hal-03208957, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03208957
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120717
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03208957
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Michael Sony & Jiju Antony & Guilherme L. Tortorella, 2023. "Critical Success Factors for Successful Implementation of Healthcare 4.0: A Literature Review and Future Research Agenda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-22, March.
    4. Gillani, Fatima & Chatha, Kamran Ali & Jajja, Shakeel Sadiq & Cao, Dongmei & Ma, Xiao, 2024. "Unpacking Digital Transformation: Identifying key enablers, transition stages and digital archetypes," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    5. Halmosi, Péter & Aranyossy, Márta, 2024. "Exploring macro-environmental catalysts and barriers of healthcare 4.0 transformation in Central-Eastern European countries: A comprehensive study in Hungary," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    6. Antonio Fusco & Graziana Galeone & Federico Schimperna & Rosa Lombardi, 2021. "The impact of Gender diversity on Healthcare System and Leadership: A first SLR for the future research," MECOSAN, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(120), pages 7-19.
    7. Anja Burmann & Burkhard Fischer & Nico Brinkkötter & Sven Meister, 2022. "Managing Directors’ Perspectives on Digital Maturity in German Hospitals—A Multi-Point Online-Based Survey Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-18, August.
    8. Ma, Jing & Li, Qing & Zhao, Qiuyun & Liou, Jennhae & Li, Chen, 2024. "From bytes to green: The impact of supply chain digitization on corporate green innovation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    9. Abbas, Hasnain & Zhao, Lindu & Gong, Xi & Faiz, Narmeen, 2023. "The perishable products case to achieve sustainable food quality and safety goals implementing on-field sustainable supply chain model," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 87(PA).
    10. Benzidia, Smaïl & Makaoui, Naouel & Subramanian, Nachiappan, 2021. "Impact of ambidexterity of blockchain technology and social factors on new product development: A supply chain and Industry 4.0 perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    11. Saoussane Srhir & Anicia Jaegler & Jairo R. Montoya‐Torres, 2023. "Uncovering Industry 4.0 technology attributes in sustainable supply chain 4.0: A systematic literature review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4143-4166, November.
    12. Ming-Lang Tseng & Tat-Dat Bui & Ming K. Lim & Stephen Lewi, 2021. "A Cause and Effect Model for Digital Sustainable Supply Chain Competitiveness under Uncertainties: Enhancing Digital Platform," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-19, September.
    13. Bertolin Furstenau, Leonardo & Abreu Saurin, Tarcisio, 2024. "Designing resilient health services supported by digital technologies: A study of the blood transfusion process," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    14. Azadi, Majid & Yousefi, Saeed & Farzipoor Saen, Reza & Shabanpour, Hadi & Jabeen, Fauzia, 2023. "Forecasting sustainability of healthcare supply chains using deep learning and network data envelopment analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    15. Tiwari, Sunil & Sharma, Pankaj & Jha, Ashish Kumar, 2024. "Digitalization & Covid-19: An institutional-contingency theoretic analysis of supply chain digitalization," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    16. Alla Mostepaniuk & Turgay Akalin & Mohammad Reza Parish, 2023. "Practices Pursuing the Sustainability of A Healthcare Organization: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, January.
    17. Smail Benzidia & Omar Bentahar & Julien Husson & Naouel Makaoui, 2024. "Big data analytics capability in healthcare operations and supply chain management: the role of green process innovation," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 333(2), pages 1077-1101, February.
    18. Christos Bialas & Dimitrios Bechtsis & Eirini Aivazidou & Charisios Achillas & Dimitrios Aidonis, 2023. "Digitalization of the Healthcare Supply Chain through the Adoption of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems in Hospitals: An Empirical Study on Influencing Factors and Cost Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-11, February.
    19. Kumar, Anil & Naz, Farheen & Luthra, Sunil & Vashistha, Rajat & Kumar, Vikas & Garza-Reyes, Jose Arturo & Chhabra, Deepak, 2023. "Digging DEEP: Futuristic building blocks of omni-channel healthcare supply chains resiliency using machine learning approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    20. Farajpour, Farnoush & Hassanzadeh, Alireza & Elahi, Shaban & Ghazanfari, Mehdi, 2022. "Digital supply chain blueprint via a systematic literature review," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    21. Tiwari, Manisha & Bryde, David J. & Stavropoulou, Foteini & Dubey, Rameshwar & Kumari, Sushma & Foropon, Cyril, 2024. "Modelling supply chain Visibility, digital Technologies, environmental dynamism and healthcare supply chain Resilience: An organisation information processing theory perspective," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    22. Xiaowen Lu & Atour Taghipour, 2025. "A Review of Supply Chain Digitalization and Emerging Research Paradigms," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-25, March.
    23. Furstenau, Leonardo Bertolin & Zani, Carolina & Terra, Stela Xavier & Sott, Michele Kremer & Choo, Kim-Kwang Raymond & Saurin, Tarcisio Abreu, 2022. "Resilience capabilities of healthcare supply chain and supportive digital technologies," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    24. Angelos I. Stoumpos & Fotis Kitsios & Michael A. Talias, 2023. "Digital Transformation in Healthcare: Technology Acceptance and Its Applications," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-44, February.

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    Keywords

    Digital; Supply chain; Healthcare; Technology;
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