Critical Success Factors for Digital Transformation in Cold Supply Chains: A Systematic Review and Implementation Framework

Abstract

Digital transformation (DT) initiatives in cold supply chain (CSC) operations experience high failure rates despite substantial capital investment. Operations managers lack systematic frameworks to guide production planning decisions regarding which capabilities to implement, in what sequence, and under what operational conditions. This PRISMA-guided systematic review analyzes 50 articles (2018-2025), identifying 42 critical success factors (CSFs) organized into 11 thematic clusters grounded in Technology-Organization-Environment framework and Dynamic Capabilities theory. Thematic coding validated through inter-rater reliability (Cohen’s $\kappa =0.77$ ) and cross-referenced against pharmaceutical, food/retail, and agri-food operations supports cold chain applicability. The analysis yields a three-stage maturity framework sequencing implementation to help operations managers sequence investments from infrastructure (Foundation) through technology deployment (Intermediate) to performance optimization (Advanced). Sector-specific challenge-CSF-stage mappings are intended to help operations managers align transformation investments with documented operational challenges, with the aim of reducing implementation failures, pending empirical validation. This research extends technology adoption frameworks to temperature-controlled production planning and offers a structured, initially corroborated basis for implementation decisions.