The role of information and digital tools in supply chain management during the Covid crisis

Supply chains have become the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, as evidenced by problems in the supply of semiconductors, food, and other products, which raises the problem of supply chain manageability. There has been a so-called ‘shortening’ of the supply chain. The paper addressed the problem of using digital tools in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The study aims to examine the main digital tools used by local businesses and evaluate the prospects for logistics management using new technology. The hypothesis is that SMEs that do not use digital tools in supply chain management are also characterized by the poor quality of management. A survey was conducted to identify the actual supply chain management practices during the COVID-19-induced crisis in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Republic of Kazakhstan and discover common trends and differences in these countries. A set of recommendations for implementing best global practices in these countries was suggested. The study found that poor supply chain management correlates with a lack of digital tools application. The studied enterprises were divided into five groups based on the digital tools level and provided tailored recommendations to improve the integration of such tools.