Digital Transformation of Supply Chains in Africa: Drivers, Barriers, and Effects

Abstract

Supply chain management is undergoing profound changes, with digital transformation emerging as a key driver for improving traceability, strengthening resilience, and enhancing organizational competitiveness. While this trend has been widely documented in developed economies, evidence from Africa remains limited, where infrastructure, institutional, and socio-economic conditions present distinct challenges. This study provides a systematic literature review to map the current state of research on the digital transformation of supply chains across the African continent. Following the PRISMA protocol, a systematic search was conducted across seven academic databases, resulting in the selection of 56 studies from an initial pool of 742 records. The findings reveal an emerging and fragmented body of research, largely concentrated in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, and focused primarily on the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors. Blockchain and the Internet of Things are the most frequently investigated technologies, whereas artificial intelligence and big data remain comparatively underexplored. Although competitive pressure and the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated digital adoption, persistent barriers, including inadequate infrastructure, high implementation costs, skills shortages, and weak regulatory frameworks, continue to constrain its potential benefits. This study provides a French-language synthesis of this predominantly English-language research field and highlights several directions for future research and policies supporting the digitalization of African supply chains.