The symbiosis of Web 2.0, Web 4.0 technologies and supply chain management: insights from bibliographic analysis and topic modeling

Abstract

Digitization is the application of novel technologies and a shift in how the organization manages its processes, increasing its resilience. Moreover, digitization is one of the main trends anticipated to impact supply chains highly by 2025. However, the impact of digital technologies such as Web 2.0, including social networks, and Web 4.0, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, the Internet of things, and metaverse, is still underexplored in the field of supply chain management. Thus, the main goal of this study is to theoretically determine the effect of web-based digitization on supply chain management. The bibliographic analysis and topic modeling were conducted to analyze 940 Web of Science Core Collection publications from 1997 to 2024. The aim was to uncover selected publications' characteristics, main keywords, and research methods. Moreover, to analyze how social networks such as “Facebook”, “Youtube”, and “X” (previously “Twitter”) and Web 4.0 technologies are connected to supply chain management. Also, the topic modeling was used to provide three possible research directions. However, this research also had limitations, such as concentrating only on the “Web of Science Core Collection.” Another limitation is that only bibliographic analysis was conducted, suggesting potential future systematic literature reviews or empirical studies.