In the digital transformation era, technological innovations have given rise to process automation, networking and new methods of communication, producing at the same time a boost towards circular economy. This is evident in the agro-industrial systems where environmental impacts, losses and waste arise constantly along the whole supply chain. This study provides recommendations aimed at leading managers’ decisions towards the adoption of digital technologies which ensure the highest circularity of the agro-industrial supply chain. A SWOT matrix was developed to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of digitalization in enhancing circularity of agro-industrial supply chains, while through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) a rank of critical factors (CFs) was provided by using the eigenvalue method. Results reveal a key function of digitalization in fostering circularity within the agroindustry, emphasizing that a complete transition towards circular economy requires adequate management decisions based on the rank of the abovementioned CFs. Thereby, managers and practitioners should address their efforts to digitize or automate agro-industrial systems, developing focused investment plans aimed at achieving sustainability and circularity, while policymakers should elaborate how to incentivize the adoption of emerging digital technologies which enable circularity.
Is Digitalization Making Agroindustry More Circular? A SWOT-AHP Analysis
Agnusdei L.
;Krstic M.;Miglietta P. P.
2023-01-01
Abstract
In the digital transformation era, technological innovations have given rise to process automation, networking and new methods of communication, producing at the same time a boost towards circular economy. This is evident in the agro-industrial systems where environmental impacts, losses and waste arise constantly along the whole supply chain. This study provides recommendations aimed at leading managers’ decisions towards the adoption of digital technologies which ensure the highest circularity of the agro-industrial supply chain. A SWOT matrix was developed to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of digitalization in enhancing circularity of agro-industrial supply chains, while through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) a rank of critical factors (CFs) was provided by using the eigenvalue method. Results reveal a key function of digitalization in fostering circularity within the agroindustry, emphasizing that a complete transition towards circular economy requires adequate management decisions based on the rank of the abovementioned CFs. Thereby, managers and practitioners should address their efforts to digitize or automate agro-industrial systems, developing focused investment plans aimed at achieving sustainability and circularity, while policymakers should elaborate how to incentivize the adoption of emerging digital technologies which enable circularity.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
