Supply chain visibility is a concept that is gaining increasing attention. Increasing levels of visibility in the supply chain is considered beneficial in many respects. A systematic literature review identified 47 empirical research papers from international scientific journals. Two main findings emerged from the content analysis. First, the perspectives provided in the extant literature can be grouped into four categories: antecedents, barriers and challenges, drivers, and effects. The effects include both capabilities and operational performance. Second, the few models on supply chain visibility include only antecedents and effects, and do not capture the perspectives of barriers, challenges, or drivers. We present a framework for supply chain visibility driven by insights from the content analysis. The ABCDE framework includes antecedents (A), barriers and challenges (BC), drivers (D), and effects (E), and provides a holistic view of supply chain visibility. The framework can aid managers with per-spectives and factors to consider when discussing, implementing, and improving supply chain visibility and provides researchers with a state-of-the-art review of supply chain visibility. We also propose an agenda for further research.

Visibility across supply chains has been a key concern for organisations for many years, but the tools and information systems to achieve real-time visibility have not been available until recently. In response to uncertainty and complexity, advanced information and communication technologies have been explored for supply chain visibility (SCV). However, managerial perspectives are largely absent from the current literature. In response, this paper systematically documents managerial factors influencing SCV and information that should be collected and shared among supply chain partners for better visibility. A multi-stage Delphi analysis was conducted with 26 supply chain experts from various globally recognised enterprises with manufacturing units located worldwide. The results provide details on prioritised managerial perspectives and experiences within (1) factors affecting SCV (drivers, enablers, challenges and contingencies), (2) SCV content (supplier, internal and customer information) and (3) implications of SCV (capabilities and performance effects). One observation was that forecasting is not deemed as important due to severe disruptions in supply chains. Real-time visibility for better predictability emerged as the top priority. This study is among the few that empirically explores factors influencing supply chain visibility and generates new insights into why barriers can be difficult to overcome in complex supply chain settings.

Supply chain visibility (SCV) has been gaining recognition in recent years as a key factor for achieving analytical capabilities and improving supply chain performance. However, levels of SCV implementation lag behind current technological advances. This research was motivated by the lack of visibility in inbound logistics, which limits the possibility of managing deviation, in particular concerning changes in arrival time of incoming goods, in large industrial firms. We addressed this problem by adopting a design science approach. In particular, we followed context–intervention–mechanism–outcome (CIMO) logic to map and analyse material and information flows. The problems areas were successively translated via business and functional requirements into technological solutions. We evaluated alternative technologies using controlled experiments that mimicked real-life situations. This study provides guidance for manufacturing companies aiming to enhance deviation management and predictive capabilities by improving visibility in their inbound logistics and potentially extending visibility to other areas, such as internal and outbound flows.

Supply chain visibility has become a key priority for manufacturing companies to handle disruptions and improve supply chain performance. IoT technologies have been recognised to enable higher levels of real-time supply chain visibility. However, there is a need for empirical research focusing on testing IoT technologies to improve supply chain visibility of incoming goods from suppliers. This study presents the findings from a pilot study conducted at a global manufacturer of transport solutions testing IoT technologies in real operations to improve supply chain visibility of incoming goods in their inbound logistics flow. In particular, the opportunities and challenges of applying IoT technologies to increase supply chain visibility in real operations are identified. The study provides guidance for manufacturing companies aiming to improve supply chain visibility and performance in their inbound flow and potentially other areas of their supply chain using IoT technologies.