Building resilient supply chains through digitalization: the roles of supply chain traceability and desorptive capacity

Purpose In today's volatile and complex global environment, enhancing supply chain resilience (SCR) through digital innovation has become a top priority. This study aims to investigate how supply chain digitalization contributes to resilience, highlighting supply chain traceability as a pivotal mediating mechanism. Furthermore, it examines the moderating influence of desorptive capacity on this relationship, offering insights within the unique context of Ghanaian manufacturing firms. Design/methodology/approach The study conducted a comprehensive review of existing literature and collected empirical data through questionnaires from 315 manufacturing firms in Ghana. The responses were statistically analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling software to examine the relationships under study. Findings The analysis of the data revealed that the relationship between supply chain digitalization and SCR was not significant and actually negative, with this effect being fully mediated by supply chain traceability. Additionally, there was a positive direct relationship between supply chain digitalization and supply chain traceability and between supply chain traceability and resilience. However, the moderating effect of desorptive capacity on these relationships was found to be non-significant. Originality/value This study offers a fresh perspective by uncovering the transformative role of supply chain traceability as the linchpin between digitalization and resilience, moving beyond conventional views of visibility. It extends current understanding by applying necessary condition analysis to distinguish between necessary and sufficient conditions for SCR.