Impact of Digital Transformation on Logistics: A Systematic and Bibliometric Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Digital transformation in logistics leverages advanced technologies to optimise supply chain efficiency, visibility, and agility. Modern organisations increasingly adopt artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, and big data analytics to streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and cultivate a highly connected, data-driven ecosystem.

Objective: This study conducts a comprehensive, systematic, and bibliometric literature review to map the research landscape of digital transformation in logistics, focusing on how the implementation of diverse technological innovations impacts overall supply chain processes.

Methodology: Utilising a rigorous, dual-methodological framework combining systematic review protocols and bibliometric analysis, this study mapped conceptually diverse interpretations of digital transformation, identified recurring structural patterns, and tracked shifting research trends. The initial database search results were systematically filtered according to predefined inclusion criteria, resulting in a robust analytical sample of 1,874 English-language peer-reviewed articles published up to 2025.

Results: The findings reveal significant qualitative and quantitative growth trends within the field. The annual research output on digital logistics increased steadily between 2015 and 2025, experiencing a sharp, exponential rise from 2020 onwards, heavily driven by global technological transitions and accelerated industrial digitalisation. The thematic mapping identified core clusters focusing on Internet of Things architecture, automated management systems, and cloud-driven supply chain integration.

Conclusion: The study concludes that transitioning to digital infrastructures is vital for the modernisation of the logistics sector. Synthesised data across both analytical dimensions confirms that the strategic integration of digital capabilities yields a profoundly positive impact on end-to-end supply chain optimisation and operational agility.

Unique Contribution: This systematic bibliometric review advances the field by providing a unified, multidimensional taxonomy of digital logistics research, explicitly illustrating how technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and automated enterprise systems intersect to eliminate operational friction. It provides scholars and practitioners with a clear, data-backed developmental timeline of the evolution of industrial supply chains.

Key Recommendation: Logistics firms should systematically upgrade traditional operational models by adopting scalable digital frameworks to maintain market competitiveness and resilience. Furthermore, organisational leaders should invest in targeted digital upskilling programmes for workers, while future research should focus on empirical frameworks to evaluate the return on investment of specific digital tools in developing economic contexts.