Exploring the Factors Influencing the Facilitation of Collaboration through Industry 4.0 in Reverse Logistics : An exploratory multiple case study

Abstract: Background: Although reverse logistics becomes more important nowadays to reach organisation goals, organisations are still plagued by data uncertainty and low supply chain visibility. In an attempt to remove those barriers to reach an effective reverse logistics operation, organisations have started to integrate industry 4.0 technologies among themselves and their reverse logistics partners. However, the introduction of industry 4.0 influence collaboration among reverse logistics partners posing a threat to successful implementation of industry 4.0 and to solving current reverse logistics operational problems. Purpose: The primary aim of this study is to provide insights what factors influence the facilitation of collaboration between supply chain partners through adopting Industry 4.0 within reverse logistics. Additionally, this study's secondary aim is to provide insights in how the concepts of industry 4.0, collaboration and reverse logistics relate to each other. Method: This study is performed as qualitative inductive research with a relativist ontology and a constructionist epistemology. The research design consists of an explorative multiple case study in which data has been collected through semi-structured interviews which have been found through purposive sampling. The data analysis of this research has been performed with a thematic analysis. Conclusion: The results show that three distinct factors have emerged from this study. General perception (1) in which a negative feeling towards reverse logistics has been described. Relationship-based collaboration (2) that describes that trust is the single-most important factor in relationships. Collaborative network 4.0 (3) which displays four stages of technological adaptations in reverse logistics streams.