Exploring the Drivers, Challenges, and Opportunities of Supply Chain Technology Adoption for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia
Abstract
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have a crucial impact on the Malaysian economy, making major contributions to the functioning of the supply chain. Integrating supply chain technology has become a crucial element in enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of SMEs in Malaysia. During recent years many developing and developed countries have witnessed the expansion of markets and supply chain networks; in the progress of these market and supply systems SMEs find various complexities when they are implementing or improving the technology integration of their supply chain. The current body of literature often addresses the adoption of technology in a general manner or within larger organizations, resulting in a significant gap in study about the specific circumstances and requirements of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study employs a rigorous methodology that analyzes relevant papers to examine the drivers, challenges, and opportunities for adopting supply chain technology among SMEs in Malaysia. By implementing supply chain technology, Malaysian SMEs can increase their performance in many areas of key performance indicators. This includes improving efficiency, optimizing inventory management, achieving cost savings, enhancing customer service, and increasing market competitiveness. It is believed that the findings of the study can be useful for managers of SMEs, policymakers, and interested stakeholders. This will enable SMEs to navigate the challenges of adopting technology more effectively and enhance global competitiveness.
Downloads
References
Alkatheeri, H. and Ahmad, S.Z. (2024). Examining blockchain adoption determinants and supply chain performance: an empirical study in the logistics and supply chain management industry, Journal of Modelling in Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/JM2-08-2023-0186 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JM2-08-2023-0186
Alam, S. S., Ali, M. Y., & Jani, M. F. M. (2011). An empirical study of factors affecting electronic commerce adoption among MSMEs in Malaysia. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 12(2), 375–399. https://doi.org/10.3846/16111699.2011.576749 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/16111699.2011.576749
Alsetoohy, O., Ayoun, B., Arous, S., Megahed, F., & Nabil, G. (2019). Intelligent agent technology: what affects its adoption in hotel food supply chain management? Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, 10(3), 317–341. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-01-2018-0005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-01-2018-0005
Azman, N. H. N., Zabri, M. Z. M., Masron, T. A., &Malim, N. A. K. (2020). The adoption of ar-rahnu and financial well-being of micro-entrepreneurs in Malaysia. The International Journal of Academic Research in Business & Social Sciences, 10(6), 36–53. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v10-i6/7259 DOI: https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v10-i6/7259
Bag, S., Gupta, S., Kumar, S., & Sivarajah, U. (2021). Role of technological dimensions of green supply chain management practices on firm performance. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 34(3), 741-764. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-10-2019-0324
Bansal, S., Kumar, V., Kumari, A., Kuzmin, E. (2023). Understanding the Role of Digital Technologies in Supply Chain Management of SMEs. In: Kumar, V., Kyriakopoulos, G.L., Akberdina, V., Kuzmin, E. (eds) Digital Transformation in Industry . DTI 2022. Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organization, vol 61. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-30351-7_16 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-30351-7_16
Bhardwaj, A., Garg, A., & Gajpal, Y. (2021). Determinants of blockchain technology adoption in supply chains by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India. Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2021, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5537395 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5537395
Dubey, R., Gunasekaran, A., & Childe, S. J. (2020). Big data analytics capability in supply chain agility: The moderating effect of organizational flexibility. Management Decision, 57(8), 2092-2112. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-01-2018-0119 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-01-2018-0119
Department of Statistics Malaysia, (2023). Profile & performance of MSMEs in 2023. https://www.smecorp.gov.my/index.php/en/policies/2020-02-11-08-01-24/sme-statistics
Fabeil, N. F., Pazim, K. H., & Langgat, J. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 pandemic crisis on micro-enterprises: Entrepreneurs' perspective on business continuity and recovery strategy. Journal of Economics and Business, 3(2), 837-844. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31014/aior.1992.03.02.241
Fernando, Y., (2015). Low Carbon Footprint: The Supply Chain Agenda in Malaysian Manufacturing Firms. 10.4018/978-1-4666-8222-1.
Ismail, H. N., Saman, M. Z. M., & Ghani, A. A. A. (2021). Critical success factors for successful implementation of Industry 4.0: A systematic literature review and implications for SMEs. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 32(6), 1165-1187.
Ivanov, D., & Dolgui, A. (2020). Viability of intertwined supply networks: Extending the supply chain resilience angles towards survivability. International Journal of Production Research, 58(4), 1-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2020.1750727 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2020.1750727
Kaur, H., Awasthi, A., & Luthra, S. (2021). Technology adoption in supply chain management for sustainable development: Integrating institutional theory and resource-based view. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 172,
Khaw, Kw &, Alhamzah, A., & Hadi, A., Victor, T., Yuvaraj, G., Nadia, A., (2022). Reactions towards organizational change: a systematic literature review. Current Psychology. 42. 1-24. 10.1007/s12144-022-03070-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03070-6
Kumar, A., & Ayedee, N. (2019). Sustainable development in SMEs through social media channels. International Journal of Management, Technology, and Engineering, 9(6), 1066–1075
Kumar, A., & Ayedee, N. (2021). Technology adoption: A solution for SMEs to overcome problems during COVID-19. Academy of Marketing Studies Journal, 25(1), 1–16
Lacity, M.C. & Reynolds, P., (2014). Cloud services practices for small and medium-sized enterprises. MIS Quarterly Executive. 13. 31-44.
Lee, K. L., Romzi, N., Hanaysha, J., Alzoubi, H., & Alshurideh, M. (2022). Investigating the impact of benefits and challenges of IoT adoption on supply chain performance and organizational performance: An empirical study in Malaysia. Uncertain Supply Chain Management, 10, 537–550. http://dx.doi.org/10.5267/j.uscm.2021.11.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5267/j.uscm.2021.11.009
Lin, C., Alam, S.S., Ho, Y., Al-Shaikh, M.E., & Sultan, P. (2020). Adoption of Green Supply Chain Management among SMEs in Malaysia. Sustainability. 12. 6454. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12166454
Martini, M., Setiawan, D., Suryandari, R. T., Brahmana, R. K., & Asrihapsari, A. (2023). Determinants of Digital Innovation in Micro and Small Industries. Economies, 11(6), Article 172. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies11060172 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/economies11060172
Mat, T. Z., & Kadir, S. F. (2016). Enhancing inventory management through supply chain technology adoption. International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 5(3), 45-58.
Min, H. (2021). Artificial intelligence in supply chain management: Theory and applications. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 13, 13-39. https://doi.org/10.1080/13675560902736537. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13675560902736537
Mishra, K. P. (2016). The impact of supply chain technology on SME performance. Journal of Business Logistics, 37(1), 72-85.
Mishra, K.P. (2013). Supply Chain Insights for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia.
MITI. (2018). Industry4WRD: National policy on Industry 4.0. Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia. Retrieved from https://www.miti.gov.my/miti/resources/National_Policy_on_Industry4WRD_-_21_Oct_2018.pdf
Mohamad Faisal, S. B., & Idris, S. (2020). Determinant factors of supply chain technology adoption among Sabah small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Malaysian Journal of Business and Economics (MJBE). 6, 63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51200/mjbe.v0i0.2173
Nguyen, T. D., & Ngo, T. Q. (2021). The role of technological advancement, supply chain, environmental, social, and governance responsibilities on the sustainable development goals of SMEs in Vietnam. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 35(1), 4557–4579. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2021.2015611
Pereira, A. C., & Romero, F. (2017). A review of the meanings and the implications of the Industry 4.0 concept. Procedia Manufacturing, 13, 1206-1214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2017.09.032 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2017.09.032
Qutaishat, F., Abushakra, A., Anaya, L. and Al-Omari, M. (2023). Investigating the factors affecting the intention to adopt cloud-based ERP systems during the COVID-19 era: evidence from Jordan, Business Process Management Journal, 29(3), 653-670. https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-09-2022-0462 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-09-2022-0462
Romero, I., Mammadov, H., (2024). Digital Transformation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises as an Innovation Process: A Holistic Study of its Determinants. J Knowl Econ.https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-024-02217-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-024-02217-z
Rogers, E. M. (2003). DIFFUSION OF INNOVATIONS (Fifth Edit). Free Press.
Saberi, S., Kouhizadeh, M., Sarkis, J., & Shen, L. (2018). Blockchain technology and its relationships to sustainable supply chain management. International Journal of Production Research, 57(7), 2117-2135. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2018.1533261 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2018.1533261
Salim, M. N., Marlapa, E., Ismail, S., Rahman, N. H. A., Hussin, H., Susilastuti, D., & Murti, W. (2022). Determinants of MSMEs growth and its impact on income and unemployment: Cases of Indonesia and Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Economics and Management and Sciences, 11. http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJAREMS/v11-i1/12305 DOI: https://doi.org/10.6007/IJAREMS/v11-i1/12305
Ta, V., & Lin, C.-Y. (2023). Exploring the Determinants of digital transformation adoption for SMEs in an emerging economy. Sustainability, 15(9), 7093. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097093
Tay, S.I. Alipal, J. Lee, T.C, (2021), Industry 4.0: Current practice and challenges in Malaysian manufacturing firms, Technology in Society, 67, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101749 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101749
Wong, L.W., Leong, L.Y., Hew, J.J., Tan, G. W.H., & Ooi, K.B. (2020). Time to seize the digital evolution: Adoption of blockchain in operations and supply chain management among Malaysian SMEs. International Journal of Information Management, 52, 101997. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2019.08.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2019.08.005
Copyright (c) 2024 Nor Azian Abdul Rahman, Zulhasni Abdul Rahim
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Author (s) should affirm that the material has not been published previously. It has not been submitted and it is not under consideration by any other journal. At the same time author (s) need to execute a publication permission agreement to assume the responsibility of the submitted content and any omissions and errors therein. After submission of revised paper in the light of suggestions of the reviewers, the editorial team edits and formats manuscripts to bring uniformity and standardization in published material.
This work will be licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) and under condition of the license, users are free to read, copy, remix, transform, redistribute, download, print, search or link to the full texts of articles and even build upon their work as long as they credit the author for the original work. Moreover, as per journal policy author (s) hold and retain copyrights without any restrictions.