The Role of IoT in Enhancing Supply Chain Visibility and Risk Management in Finnish Supply Chains: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

This qualitative study investigates the potential of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to enhance supply chain visibility and risk management in Finnish supply chains. Conducting semi structured interviews with eight supply chain professionals managing logistics, manufacturing, procurements and digital transformation topics, this research has addressed a framework of questions concerning the application of IoT which leads to monitoring information on line, building supply chains visibility along distant supply network and developing new capabilities for organisation to foresee and face-off supply chain events. This six-phased process adopted a thematic analysis. Seven common themes were observed, covering information in line monitoring, visibility gain, proactive risk management, implementation challenges, data based decision making, keys success factors and future challenges for adoption. Results from the survey shows that the application of IoT allows considerable scope for improving operational efficiency and supply chain resilience but implementation faces obstacle as the main hurdles in order to adopt: prohibitive initial investment; cybersecurity risks; and employees struggle to embrace novelties technologies. The research adds to the growing body of knowledge focusing on digital supply chain transformation in Nordic countries, and provides practical recommendations for organizations planning to implement the technologies in supply chain operations.