Impact of information and communications technology alignment on supply chain performance in the Industry 4.0 era: mediation effect of supply chain integration

ABSTRACT With the advent of the Industry 4.0 era, the manufacturing industry realizes the importance of developing information and communications technology (ICT). Based on organizational information processing theory and resource-based view, this study constructs the conceptual model with the framework of “information-integration-performance,” uses survey data from Chinese manufacturing enterprises, and investigates the impact of ICT alignment on supply chain performance using a structural equation model with supply chain integration as the mediation variable. The study found that ICT alignment has no direct effect on supply chain performance, but its indirect effect is significant under the mediation effect of supply chain integration. In the relationship between supply chain integration and financial performance, operational performance plays a good mediation effect. These findings help companies to implement Industry 4.0 and ICT strategies that apply ICT alignment rationally and innovatively to ensure good organizational operations and improve supply chain performance. Graphical abstract