Evolution of digital supply chain management in the freight transport industry: A comparative study

A.I. Zangwa, H. F. Conradie & T. Rulashe

Volume 6 Issue 3, September 2025

Abstract

This study examines the evolution of digital supply chain management in KwaZulu-Natal’s freight transport ecosystem across road, maritime and air. Using a mixed-methods design, we combined expert interviews with a practitioner survey to identify adoption patterns, enablers and constraints. Guided by established lenses including the Technology Acceptance Model, Resource Dependence and Transaction Cost perspectives, we map digital tools in use, perceived benefits and capability gaps. Findings show uneven maturity across modes; leadership commitment, skills development and interoperable data are recurrent enablers, while legacy systems, connectivity and cyber-security concerns persist as barriers. We propose a phased, monitoring-and-evaluation-linked model to support incremental adoption and performance tracking. The study offers practical direction for operators and policymakers on sequencing investments and strengthening governance of digital operations. The focus on a single province and reliance on self-reported perceptions limit wider generalisation, and the sample includes relatively larger firms. Future work should extend comparative analysis to other provinces and include small and micro operators. Overall, the paper contributes an integrated view of digital adoption in a freight hub and a usable model for sector decision-making. The provincial scope (KwaZulu-Natal) and the emphasis on medium-to-large operators limit wider generalisability. Future work will extend the analysis to additional provinces and purposively sample small and micro enterprises to surface size-specific adoption pathways.

Keywords

Author information & Contribution

A.I. Zangwa. Lecturer, Durban University of Technology, South Africa. Email: asandaz@dut.ac.za

H. F. Conradie. Honorary Research Associate, Durban University of Technology, South Africa. Email: conradie.hendrik@gmail.com

T. Rulashe. Corresponding author. Senior Lecturer, University of Mpumalanga, South Africa. Email: tndrulashe@gmail.com

"All authors equally contributed to the conception, design, preparation, data gathering and analysis, and writing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript."

Disclosure statement

Funding

Institutional Review Board Statement

AI Declaration

Notes

Acknowledgement

References

Ageron, B., Bentahar, O., & Gunasekaran, A. (2020). Digital supply chain: Challenges and future directions. Supply Chain Forum: An International Journal, 21(3), 133–138. https://doi.org/10.1080/16258312.2020.1816361

Arenkov, I., Tsenzharik, M., & Vetrova, M. (2019). Digital technologies in supply chain management. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Digital Technologies in Logistics and Infrastructure (ICDTLI 2019) (pp. 448–453). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/icdtli-19.2019.78

Bichou, K. (2009). Port operations, planning and logistics (1st ed.). Informa Law from Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315850443

Bierwirth, B., & Schocke, K.-O. (2017). Lead-time optimization potential of digitization in air cargo. In W. Kersten, T. Blecker, & C. M. Ringle (Eds.), Digitalization in supply chain management and logistics: Smart and digital solutions for an Industry 4.0 environment (Proceedings of the Hamburg International Conference of Logistics, HICL, Vol. 23, pp. 75–98). epubli. https://doi.org/10.15480/882.1450

Caulfield, J. (2019). How to do thematic analysis. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/thematic-analysis/

Chasomeris, M. G. (2006). South Africa’s maritime policy and transformation of the shipping industry. Journal of Interdisciplinary Economics, 17(3), 269–288. https://doi.org/10.1177/02601079X06001700302

Chechenova, L., & Batalova, N. (2023). Digitalisation of freight rail transportation as a factor in improving their efficiency. E3S Web of Conferences, 460, 06042. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202346006042

Christopher, M. (2016). Logistics and supply chain management (5th ed.). Pearson.

Conradie, P. (2020). Qualitative coding and theme development. South African Qualitative Research Network (SAQRN).

Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (2019). Supply chain management definition. https://cscmp.org/CSCMP/Educate/SCM_Definitions_and_Glossary_of_Terms.aspx

Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319–340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008

Engela, R., & Ajam, T. (2010). Implementing a government-wide monitoring and evaluation system in South Africa (Evaluation Capacity Development Working Paper Series No. 21). World Bank/Independent Evaluation Group. https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/887221468115163336

French, S., & Ríos Insua, D. (2000). Statistical decision theory. Arnold Publishers.

Fruth, M., & Teuteberg, F. (2017). Digitization in maritime logistics: What is there and what is missing? Cogent Business & Management, 4(1), 1411066. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2017.1411066

Gcezengana, G., Peter, B., Rulashe, T., & Coka, Z. (2022). An investigation of a nexus between employee skills development and competence in the Eastern Cape Department of Education. Africa’s Public Service Delivery & Performance Review, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/apsdpr.v10i1.651

Gunasekaran, A., Yusuf, Y. Y., Adeleye, E. O., & Papadopoulos, T. (2018). Agile manufacturing practices: The role of big data and business analytics with multiple case studies. International Journal of Production Research, 56(1–2), 385–397. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2017.1395488

Havenga, J. H., & Simpson, Z. P. (2018). National freight demand modelling: A tool for macrologistics management. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 29(4), 1171–1195. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-11-2017-0290

Ijeoma, E. O. (2014). Introduction to South Africa’s monitoring and evaluation in government. Verity Publishers.

Ijeoma, E. O. C. (2010). Mainstreaming government-wide monitoring and evaluation policy in South Africa: An eye on impact assessment. Journal of Public Administration, 45(2), 344–360.

Ivanov, D., Tsipoulanidis, A., & Schönberger, J. (2021). Global supply chain and operations management: A decision-oriented introduction to the creation of value (3rd ed.). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72331-6

Jam, A., Bayat, M. S., & Rulashe, T. (2024). Exploring ethics in South African municipal procurement: Professionalism, compliance, and ethical dimensions’ interface. Holistica Journal of Business and Public Administration, 15(1), 73–95. https://doi.org/10.2478/hjbpa-2024-0005

Jam, A., Bayat, M., & Rulashe, T. (2025). Ethical nexus: Navigating organisational dynamics for enhanced compliance in municipal procurement processes. Journal of Local Government Research and Innovation, 6, Article 225. https://doi.org/10.4102/jolgri.v6i0.225

La, J., & Heiets, I. (2021). The impact of digitalization and intelligentization on air transportation system. Aviation, 25(3), 159–170. https://doi.org/10.3846/aviation.2021.15336

Legner, C., Eymann, T., Hess, T., Matt, C., Böhmann, T., Drews, P., Mädche, A., Urbach, N., & Ahlemann, F. (2017). Digitalization: Opportunity and challenge for the Business and Information Systems Engineering community. Business & Information Systems Engineering, 59(4), 301–308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12599-017-0484-2

Lopez Conde, M., & Ashley, G. N. M. (2023). Role of digitalization in overcoming supply chain challenges. In Mobility and development: Innovations, policies, and practices (pp. 1–12). World Bank. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099536303102340994/pdf/IDU0396b42e60ffd104db30ac110b3f271e29f77.pdf

Mashalah, H. A., Hassini, E., Gunasekaran, A., & Bhatt (Mishra), D. (2022). The impact of digital transformation on supply chains through e-commerce: Literature review and a conceptual framework. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 165, Article 102837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2022.102837

Masuku, N., & Ijeoma, E. (2015). A global overview of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and its meaning in the local government context of South Africa. Africa’s Public Service Delivery & Performance Review, 3(2), 5–25. https://doi.org/10.4102/apsdpr.v3i2.79

Miggels, A., & Rulashe, T. (2022). Organisational change as a tool for transforming governance in a local municipality, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in the Eastern Cape. Journal of Public Administration, 57(3), 508–528.

Nowicka, K. (2019). Digital innovation in the supply chain management. Research Papers of Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, 63(8), 202–214. https://doi.org/10.15611/pn.2019.8.16

Notteboom, T., Pallis, A., & Rodrigue, J. (2021). Port economics, management and policy. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429318184

Ortwein, P., & Kuchinke, J. (2021). Digital freight forwarders disrupt road freight space. In C. Wurst & L. Graf (Eds.), Disrupting logistics (pp. 163–175). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61093-7_13

Pfeffer, J., & Salancik, G. R. (1978). The external control of organizations: A resource dependence perspective. Harper & Row. https://ssrn.com/abstract=1496213

PricewaterhouseCoopers. (2022). Emerging trends in logistics and supply chain digitalisation: PwC global survey report. https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/industries/transportation-logistics/emerging-trends.html

Queiroz, M. M., Ivanov, D., Dolgui, A., & Fosso Wamba, S. (2022). Impacts of epidemic outbreaks on supply chains: Mapping a research agenda amid the COVID-19 pandemic through a structured literature review. Annals of Operations Research, 319(1), 1159–1196. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-020-03685-7

Riedl, J., Jentzsch, A., Melcher, N. C., Gildemeister, J., Schellong, D., & Höfer, C. (2018). Why road freight needs to go digital, fast. Boston Consulting Group. https://web-assets.bcg.com/img-src/BCG-Why-Road-Freight-Needs-to-Go-Digital_Fast-Apr-2018_tcm9-207932.pdf

Rogers, E. M. (1962). Diffusion of innovations. Free Press.

Rulashe, T., & Ijeoma, E. (2022). An exploration of public accountability and service delivery at the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Africa’s Public Service Delivery & Performance Review, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/apsdpr.v10i1.535

Schniederjans, D. G., Curado, C., & Khalajhedayati, M. (2020). Supply chain digitisation trends: An integration of knowledge management. International Journal of Production Economics, 220, 107439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2019.07.012

Sidiya, L., Rulashe, T., & Conradie, H. F. (2022). Skills development needs for the supply chain management unit at a provincial government department in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Loyola Journal of Social Sciences, 36(2).

Singh, A. S., & Masuku, M. B. (2014). Sampling techniques and sample size determination in applied statistics research: An overview. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, 2(11), 1–22. https://ijecm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/21131.pdf

South Africa. Department of Transport. (2022). White Paper on the National Rail Policy (Government Gazette No. 46356). Government Printing Works. https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202205/46356gon2077.pdf

Varian, H. R. (1992). Microeconomic analysis (3rd ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.

Williamson, O. E. (1975). Markets and hierarchies: Analysis and antitrust implications. Free Press. https://ssrn.com/abstract=1496220

Wong, L. W., Leong, L. Y., Hew, J. J., Tan, G. W. H., & Ooi, K. B. (2020). Time to seize the digital evolution: Adoption of blockchain in operations and supply chain management among Malaysian SMEs. International Journal of Information Management, 52, 101997. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2019.08.005

Wong, W. P., & Tang, C. F. (2018). The major determinants of logistic performance in a global perspective: Evidence from panel data analysis. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 21(4), 431–443. https://doi.org/10.1080/13675567.2018.1438377

Cite this article:

Zangwa, A.I., Conradie, H.F. & Rulashe, T. (2025). Evolution of digital supply chain management in the freight transport industry: A comparative study. International Journal of Academe and Industry Research, 6(3), 49-74. https://doi.org/10.53378/ijair.353260