Novel Approaches for Future Supply Chains and Smart Logistics

Dear Colleagues,

Global supply chains are evolving at an unprecedented pace, driven by rapid technological advancements, increasingly volatile markets, and the demand for sustainable, resilient, and highly automated operations. As digital transformation reshapes the way goods, information, and services flow across networks, both industry and academia are seeking innovative models capable of addressing emerging challenges while unlocking new opportunities for efficiency and value creation. This Special Issue aims to gather high-quality contributions that explore the next generation of supply chain and logistics systems, with particular attention to disruptive technologies, intelligent decision-making, and novel organizational paradigms. We welcome theoretical, empirical, and methodological studies and review papers that deepen the current understanding of how supply chains can evolve into interconnected, adaptive, and smart systems capable of thriving in dynamic environments.

Key themes include the integration of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics to support real-time decision-making; the role of automation, robotics, and cyber-physical systems in enabling flexible and responsive material flows; and the use of digital twins, blockchain, and IoT infrastructures to enhance transparency, traceability, and collaboration across stakeholders. Moreover, future-oriented supply chains must tackle pressing sustainability and resilience challenges, adapting to disruptions, regulatory changes, and shifts in consumer behavior through innovative models and strategies. We particularly encourage submissions that propose novel conceptual frameworks, present real-world applications, showcase hybrid or data-driven solutions, or investigate the interplay between technological innovation, organizational change, and performance outcomes. Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers are invited to contribute to this discussion and help outline the roadmap for next-generation smart logistics systems and transformed supply chain networks.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to

• AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics for supply chain optimization;
• Digital twins, simulation, and predictive modeling for logistics planning;
• IoT, sensor networks, and real-time monitoring of supply chain operations;
• Blockchain and distributed ledger technologies for traceability and trust;
• Robotics, automation, and cyber-physical systems in logistics processes;
• Sustainable and circular supply chain design and management;
• Resilience, risk management, and adaptive strategies for disruption;
• Smart warehousing, inventory management, and autonomous material handling;
• Human–technology interaction and organizational transformation in digital logistics;
• Data-driven business models and platform-based supply chain ecosystems.

Dr. Vittorio Solina
Guest Editor

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