Sustainable Supply Chain Resilience in Pakistani SMEs: The Role of Digital Transformation and Green Practices
Abstract
In an expanding and unpredictable business context featured by pandemics specifically COVID-19, political-geographical confrontation, climate related turmoil, and technological contingencies, supply chain resilience has appeared as a discriminating ability for institutional endurance and sustained progress. SMEs (Small & Medium Enterprises) which hold main part of Pakistani economy, are specifically sensitive to supply chain interruptions due to scare resources, unsuitable technological base and inadequate sustainability competencies. This study examines the impact of electronic gradual development and green supply chain procedures and practices on supply chain resilience among Small and Medium Enterprises of Pakistan. This study empirically investigates the influence of digital transformation and green supply chain practices on supply chain resilience by utilizing stakeholders’ theory, resource-based view and dynamic capability theory. The study collected data from the owners of 394 small and medium enterprises working across trading, services and manufacturing domains in Pakistan by employing SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) and adopting a quantitative research design. The results show that digital transformation notably influences SMEs supply chain resilience by enhancing institutional responsiveness. Moreover, digital transformation significantly impacts the acceptance of green supply chain practices which positively adds value to resilience. The study employed mediation analysis which shows that green supply chain practices mediate the link between supply chain resilience and digital transformation but to some extent. The findings suggest that SMEs achieve higher resilience when digital infrastructure is incorporated with sustainability perspectives. The present study adds to literature by incorporating digital transformation and sustainability practices in an integrated resilience structure and gives practical outcomes to managers of small and medium enterprises and policymakers pursuing to fortify institutional resilience and prolonged competitiveness in developing economies like Pakistan.