The Effective Integration of Smart Technologies to Facilitate Reverse Logistics Management

Abstract

The increasing development of smart technologies is revolutionizing the supply chain by improving efficiency, visibility, and decision-making. Thus, these smart technologies would, if implemented in Reverse logistics, which involves the handling of returned, reused, or recycled products, significantly reduce the challenges related to cost, coordination, and sustainability to improve efficiency. In order to evaluate the efficiency and the impact of these new integrations, our study will employ simulation model to asses the impact of smart technologies by comparing a classical reverse logistics supply chain with no smart technologies integration and then multiple scenarios with each we integrate a new different smart technology and then one final scenarios where we will implement the maximum of smart technologies. Through these simulations, we analyze how these implementations can improve key performance indicators, including cost reduction, processing speed, and environmental sustainability. By comparing different integration strategies, this research identifies the most effective configurations for leveraging smart technologies in reverse logistics. The findings highlight the potential benefits of these innovations, offering insights for businesses seeking to enhance their sustainability efforts while improving operational performance. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on digital transformation in supply chain management and supports the development of data-driven strategies for circular economic initiatives.