Building the Bridge between Digitally Assisted Innovation Management and Sustainability in Logistics: The EARTH Project Foundations and Findings
Purpose: The article presents the foundations and findings of the EARTH project and is focused on the analysis of the potential of the applicability of a digitally assisted innovation management approach to drive sustainability projects in Logistics. The scope of the research conducted during the project implementation was mainly focused on the following issues: RQ1: What sustainability initiatives in logistics are taken by companies to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); RQ2: What benefits can be achieved by applying an innovation management approach and dedicated IT tools to implement sustainable solutions in logistics, and how do the companies translate this approach into day-to-day operations?RO3: How can a benchmarking platform support the assessment of digitally assisted innovation management, respecting the implementation of sustainable solutions in logistics? Design/Methodology/Approach: The article utilizes the mixed method based on literature review, a comparative multi-case analysis of innovation management practices and sustainable solution development in logistics, and Design Science Research (DSR) complemented by Action Design Research (ADR) to create a benchmarking tool to be tested in a real environment. Findings: Based on a literature review and interview-based case studies, the role and scope of initiatives to implement SDG-oriented solutions in logistics, as well as companies’ capability in using digitally assisted innovation management to carry out these implementations, were analyzed. This provided the foundation for developing the benchmarking platform to monitor the digitalization status of companies’ innovation processes and to examine if the use of IT tools for innovation management supports companies’ efforts to undertake actions aligned with sustainability in logistics. Practical Implications: The logistics sector lacks a fully structured approach to innovation management supported by dedicated IT tools to manage the implementation of sustainability solutions. The benchmarking platform was developed to help companies understand the level of digitalization in their innovation processes, while respecting the implementation of sustainable solutions in logistics. Originality/Value: The key value lies in translating mixed-method evidence (literature, multi-case, DSR/ADR) into a benchmarking platform that operationalizes the assessment of digitally assisted innovation management for SDG-oriented logistics implementations.