Development of an Industry 4.0 maturity model for the delivery process in supply chains

Purpose: This paper aims to show that current Industry 4.0 maturity models primarily focus on manufacturing processes. Until now, research has been lacking with regard to outbound logistics, that is, the delivery process. This paper develops such a model. Design/methodology/approach: Methodologically, this paper is grounded in design science research (DSR) and rigorously follows the model development guidelines presented by De Bruin et al. (2005). This work builds on current maturity models and original empirical research to populate and test the model. Findings: The model appears to be applicable to describing the status quo of the digitization efforts in outbound logistics, developing a corporate vision for delivery logistics excellence and providing guidance on the development path. Research limitations/implications: Thus far, the model has been applied only for a development stakeholder. For further validation, the authors are currently working on additional case studies to demonstrate the model’s applicability. Practical implications: The developed model provides guidance for the digitization of an important value-adding activity in supply chain management: the delivery process. Originality/value: To the authors’ knowledge, the proposed model is the first to explicitly consider the delivery process; therefore, it complements available approaches that focus on the manufacturing process. Moreover, the results show that the widely used Supply Chain Operations Reference model can serve as the basis for additional process maturity models.