Unfolding the link between big data analytics and supply chain planning

Big data analytics (BDA) has captured growing research interests in operations and supply chain management literature, yet, despite the significant implication, extant knowledge falls short in drawing the link between BDA and supply chain planning (SCP) with in a structured manner. This paper employs the Delphi technique to uncover the synergies between BDA technology, conceptualized as big data sources and BDA methods, and the SCP activities framed with the SCP matrix. The panel runs for three rounds with 35 experts including scholars, supply chain practitioners, and BDA specialists. The results of this paper suggest that the relevance of BDA depends on the focal SCP activity. Thirty-five projections are presented on the expected impact of BDA on SCP that are classified into three groups based on the significance of impact and probability of occurrence. This work advances the understanding of BDA in supply chain management drawing implications to prioritize BDA investment for SCP.