Drones for Supply Chain Management and Logistics: A Review and Research Agenda

Abderahman Rejeb; Karim Rejeb; Steve Simske; Horst Treiblmaier

doi:10.1080/13675567.2021.1981273

Drones for Supply Chain Management and Logistics: A Review and Research Agenda

Abderahman Rejeb, Karim Rejeb, Steve Simske, Horst Treiblmaier

School of International Management

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

This study examines the potentials and challenges of drones, or
unmanned autonomous vehicles (UAVs), in supply chain management
(SCM) and logistics. A systematic literature review was performed to
capture the dynamics surrounding drones and to provide a timely and
comprehensive overview of what has been studied so far and what
needs to be investigated in the future. 55 publications were selected
and thoroughly analysed. The findings of this study illustrate that the
potential strengths of applying drones in SCM and logistics are: (1)
support of humanitarian logistics, (2) reduced delivery time, (3) reduced
cost, (4) improved flexibility, and (5) increased sustainability. In addition,
the challenges posed by drones in SCM and logistics are grouped into
technical, organisational, safety-related, and regulatory issues. This
study also investigates real-life drone deployments in SCM and logistics
and sets forth an agenda for future research.

Original language	English
Journal	INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LOGISTICS RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/13675567.2021.1981273
Publication status	Published - Sept 2021

Keywords

Drones; unmanned autonomous vehicles; supply chain management; logistics; literature review; research agenda

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10.1080/13675567.2021.1981273

Cite this

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abstract = "This study examines the potentials and challenges of drones, orunmanned autonomous vehicles (UAVs), in supply chain management(SCM) and logistics. A systematic literature review was performed tocapture the dynamics surrounding drones and to provide a timely andcomprehensive overview of what has been studied so far and whatneeds to be investigated in the future. 55 publications were selectedand thoroughly analysed. The findings of this study illustrate that thepotential strengths of applying drones in SCM and logistics are: (1)support of humanitarian logistics, (2) reduced delivery time, (3) reducedcost, (4) improved flexibility, and (5) increased sustainability. In addition,the challenges posed by drones in SCM and logistics are grouped intotechnical, organisational, safety-related, and regulatory issues. Thisstudy also investigates real-life drone deployments in SCM and logisticsand sets forth an agenda for future research.",

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author = "Abderahman Rejeb and Karim Rejeb and Steve Simske and Horst Treiblmaier",

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doi = "10.1080/13675567.2021.1981273",

language = "English",

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AU - Rejeb, Abderahman

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AU - Simske, Steve

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PY - 2021/9

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Drones for Supply Chain Management and Logistics: A Review and Research Agenda

Abstract

Keywords

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