The purpose of our research is to study the factors characterizing strategic awareness and digitalization in the supply chains of the agricultural and food industry in the Central and Eastern European region. In the article, the authors assess the conditions and preparedness of corporate strategy, structural changes, and strategic awareness when aiming for digital transformation as a key objective that provides a competitive edge. The article is founded on a questionnaire that was developed specifically for this research as the basis of Gergely Ulechla’s PhD dissertation. The results reveal the most important motivating factors and differences in the diverse approaches to the process of strategy formulation. 
 

Strategic Awareness and Digitalization in the Supply Chains of the Agricultural and Food Industry

Logistics centres of huge capacity and having the ability to create added value have emerged in 
recent decades. These centres have become network nodes between the co
-
operating 
organizations which accomplish the management of supply chains (networks) b
y connecting 
different modalities and networks with their infrastructure and informatics. The effective 
operation of logistics centres presented in business networks are usually managed by logistics 
supplier businesses (3PL/4PL). Defining the supply net as
a complex network, logistics centres 
may be called hubs, the routes and relationships connecting the centres or 
–
by borrowing the 
term used in network theory 
–
may be called edges. Hub management provides core supply 
chain execution and visibility. Takin
g into consideration earlier results of network research we 
are searching for correlations between its proven principles and the growth possibilities of the 
centres (hubs) operated by logistics service providers. In addition, the results concerning cell 
ne
tworks provide further, new insights and increasing opportunities to consider the logistics 
systems within the field of theoretical network science. The present paper has developed as a 
result of the logistics supplier companies’ strategic responses to the
challenges of a rapidly 
changing environment, both on local and global level.

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Development of companies operating logistics service centres by employing the results of network research

The phenomena of technology and digitalization have developed rapidly most recently, leaving traces in all branches of industry. With the prevalence of Industry 4.0 and with digitalization being on the rise, companies have expanded more and more successfully. Thus, in addition to global supply chains, their own supply chains have also started to develop considerably. The aim of our research is to discover the factors characterizing the digital transformation of companies in the Central and Eastern European region. This article assesses the conditions, key drivers, and barriers of digital transformation and the benefits expected by companies operating in the agricultural and food supply chains. The research is based on a questionnaire survey of over hundred companies. From the answers, models were created to each group of questions by using factor analysis. The results show that the most important motivating factors are quality improvement, market pull, and technological push impacts. The barriers identified are largely consistent with those reported in the contemporary literature. Companies expect benefits mostly from “sales and customer relations”, followed by “logistics and marketing”, and “production and sourcing”.

Gergely Ulechla

Papers

Strategic Awareness and Digitalization in the Supply Chains of the Agricultural and Food Industry

Development of companies operating logistics service centres by employing the results of network research

Digital Transformation in Food Supply Chains in Central and Eastern Europe