Leveraging Technology for Efficient Supply Chain Management in Essentials and Food Delivery Platforms
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.2862Keywords:
Supply Chain Management, Food delivery platforms, Essentials DeliveryAbstract
AbstractThe rapid expansion of the essentials and food delivery sector has redefined consumer expectations for speed, convenience, and reliability, making efficient supply chain management (SCM) more critical than ever. The surge in demand during events such as the COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in traditional supply chains while accelerating the adoption of digital solutions. This paper examines how emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, advanced analytics, and automated warehousing—are transforming supply chain operations in essentials and food delivery platforms. Drawing on global case studies, it analyzes how leading companies like Amazon Fresh, Instacart, and Swiggy leverage these tools to enhance real-time visibility, optimize inventory, reduce waste, and improve last-mile delivery efficiency. The paper also explores challenges associated with integrating new technologies, including data privacy, infrastructure gaps, and the cost of digital transformation, especially for smaller players. Ultimately, this study argues that technological integration is not merely an operational upgrade but a strategic imperative for resilience and scalability in the essentials and food delivery sector. By reframing technology as the backbone of modern supply chain strategy, platforms can deliver on their promises of speed, affordability, and reliability while adapting to a future of increasingly complex consumer demands.
References
References
Aung, M. M., & Chang, Y. S. (2014). Temperature management for the quality assurance of a perishable food supply chain. Food Control, 40, 198–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2013.11.016
BigBasket. (2021). How AI helps BigBasket forecast demand and support local sourcing. Retrieved from https://www.bigbasket.com/
Chong, A. Y. L., Lo, C. K. Y., & Weng, X. (2017). The business value of IT investments on supply chain: A contingency perspective. Journal of Business Research, 80, 37–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2017.06.014
Christopher, M. (2016). Logistics & supply chain management (5th ed.). Pearson Education.
De Janasz, S. C., & Sullivan, S. E. (2004). Multiple mentoring in academe: Developing the professional network. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 64(2), 263–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2002.07.001
IBM Food Trust. (2021). Blockchain for food safety and transparency. Retrieved from https://www.ibm.com/food-trust
Instacart. (2022). How Instacart uses technology to connect grocers and customers. Retrieved from https://www.instacart.com/
Ivanov, D., & Dolgui, A. (2020). A digital supply chain twin for managing the disruption risks and resilience in the era of Industry 4.0. Production Planning & Control, 32(9), 775–788. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2020.1768450
Kamilaris, A., Fonts, A., & Prenafeta-Boldú, F. X. (2019). The rise of blockchain technology in agriculture and food supply chains. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 91, 640–652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2019.07.034
Mentzer, J. T., DeWitt, W., Keebler, J. S., Min, S., Nix, N. W., Smith, C. D., & Zacharia, Z. G. (2001). Defining supply chain management. Journal of Business Logistics, 22(2), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2158-1592.2001.tb00001.x
Mollenkopf, D. A., Ozanne, L. K., & Stolze, H. J. (2020). A transformative supply chain response to COVID-19. Journal of Business Logistics, 42(1), 71–82. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbl.12254
Queiroz, M. M., Ivanov, D., Dolgui, A., & Wamba, S. F. (2020). Blockchain technology for mitigating supply chain disruptions: A digital twin approach. International Journal of Production Research, 58(7), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2020.1800502
Saghafian, S., & Van Oyen, M. P. (2019). Operations management in healthcare: Strategy and practice. Springer.
Swiggy. (2021). How Swiggy uses AI and heat maps for hyperlocal delivery. Retrieved from https://www.swiggy.com/
UPS. (2020). UPS advances IoT for fleet maintenance and efficiency. Retrieved from https://www.ups.com/
Walmart. (2021). Walmart commits to a zero-emissions supply chain by 2040. Retrieved from https://corporate.walmart.com/
Wurman, P. R., D’Andrea, R., & Mountz, M. (2020). Coordinating hundreds of cooperative, autonomous vehicles in warehouses. AI Magazine, 29(1), 9–19. https://doi.org/10.1609/aimag.v29i1.2081
Zomato. (2021). Hyperpure: Zomato’s supply chain solution for restaurants. Retrieved from https://www.zomato.com/
Downloads
Posted
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Neil Khalsa

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.