The effects of industry 4.0 technologies on relational performance: the mediating role of supply chain emergence in the transitive logistics service triads

The purpose of this study is twofold. First, it aims to explore the link between the industry 4.0 technologies, supply chain emergence and their resulting impact on relational performance in the transitive service triads. Second, the study also seeks to recognize the role of supply chain emergence as a mediator between the industry 4.0 technologies and relational performance.

Grounded in the complex adaptive system theory and supply chain practice view, the author developed an empirical model, estimated through survey-based research. Data derived from 350 transitive service triads were fed into the partial least squares structural equation model to test the research hypotheses.

The results of the study indicate that the industry 4.0 technologies have a positive effect on supply chain emergence in the transitive service triads. Likewise, the research demonstrates that supply chain emergence has a positive effect on relational performance in triads. When estimating the model mediation, the author also found that supply chain emergence fully mediates the relationship between the industry 4.0 technologies and relational performance.

First, it would be worthwhile to consider a detailed investigation of the effect of specific industry 4.0 technologies to obtain self-organization of actors and emergence. Moreover, it would also be interesting to further develop the methods for investigating variation in relational performance across the entire range of performance in triads. Finally, although the issue of relational performance has been relatively well explored within a dyadic setting, the author suggests pursuing the investigation on relational performance at the triadic level.

This study contributes to the theory of supply chain management and provides significant managerial implications on the role of the industry 4.0 technologies in obtaining supply chain emergence and producing relational performance in the transitive service triads.