Harnessing Industry 5.0 to empower women in supply chain and logistics: insights from manufacturing heartland of India

Purpose This research aims to explore the role of Industry 5.0 (I5.0) in building an inclusive workforce and reinforcing women’s empowerment within the supply chain and logistics sector. This research also strives to ascertain efficient strategies and best practices for encouraging gender diversity and inclusivity within these specific sectors. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-research method was used for this research, including an in-depth review of pertinent scholarly articles using the systematic literature review (SLR) method, followed by a questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews. Findings The findings of the research revealed that though the I5.0 workplace environment can encourage a more inclusive workforce, there are still difficulties that need to be addressed. These factors include gender bias, inequality in leadership positions, and inadequate opportunities for training and development prospects for women. Nevertheless, the results also emphasized the significance of women empowerment principles (WEPs) and presented a structured framework that can be used as a blueprint for encouraging inclusivity and empowering women in the sector. Practical implications Theoretical implications entail the significance of I5.0 and its influence on gender diversity, and women empowerment. Practical implication pertains to the implementation of the proposed framework to enrich industry practices for promoting inclusive workforce development. Originality/value The originality of the research lies in its mixed and comprehensive approach to perceiving the role of I5.0 in enhancing inclusivity and women’s empowerment. By integrating SLR, bibliometric analysis, market survey and semi-structured interviews, the study offers a comprehensive perspective on the challenges and opportunities in this area. The practical aspect of the proposed framework provides organizations with a step-by-step guide to encourage gender diversity and inclusivity within the workforce.