Advancing Intelligent Supply Chain Management in the Industry ۴.۰ Era: A Meta-Synthesis Analysis

Objective: In the Fourth Industrial Revolution, advanced technologies are revolutionizing supply chains by enhancing data collection, processing, and analysis across material, financial, and information flows. This shift enables businesses to adopt intelligent supply chain processes with unprecedented efficiency. The integration of intelligent strategies and process-oriented approaches, supported by tools like Intelligent Business Process Management Systems (iBPMS), holds transformative potential for supply chain management, paving the way for Intelligent Supply Chain Management (iSCM) models. This study aims to identify the key dimensions and sub-dimensions of intelligent supply chain processes within the context of Industry ۴.۰ technologies.Methods: The research employs a meta-synthesis methodology, systematically reviewing peer-reviewed literature and international publications from ۲۰۱۶ to ۲۰۲۵. Following strict meta-synthesis protocols, the study involved keyword screening, thematic evaluation, and iterative refinement, resulting in a curated selection of ۶۲ high-impact journal articles and ۴ seminal books. These sources underwent rigorous validation to ensure scholarly relevance before analysis. Results: The findings identified ۱۱۷ open codes related to intelligent supply chain processes, which were consolidated into ۱۸ core codes and further classified into five key dimensions: (۱) Intelligent Supply Chain Management (covering SCM and intelligent procurement); (۲) Process Intelligent Automation (including automation approaches, intelligent processes, and equipment); (۳) Process Management (focused on process-oriented approaches, systems, and modeling); (۴) Technological Infrastructure (encompassing emerging technologies, ICT infrastructure, software maturity, and robotics); and (۵) Macro & Structural Dimensions (addressing managerial, industrial, e-business, market, and organizational factors).Conclusion: The study concludes that Industry ۴.۰ technologies—such as IoT, AI, blockchain, robotics, and big data analytics—facilitate advanced data-driven supply chain management. When integrated with iBPMS, these innovations enhance efficiency, agility, and end-to-end visibility, establishing a foundation for next-generation intelligent supply chains

Keywords:

Process Management Systems , Intelligent Supply Chain Management , Industry ۴.۰ , Meta-synthesis