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The increasing complexity of engineering procurement and the growing demand for efficiency, transparency, and resilience in supply chains have intensified the need for digital transformation in procurement systems. Despite the rapid advancement of Industry 4.0 technologies, existing studies on digital procurement remain fragmented, often focusing on individual technologies or general supply chain contexts rather than engineering procurement environments. This study examines the role of digital technologies in engineering procurement and provides an integrated understanding of their impact, associated challenges, and transformation pathways. A systematic literature review (SLR) approach was adopted, guided by PRISMA principles, using peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2024 from major academic databases. A thematic and cross-study synthesis was employed to analyse the conceptual evolution of digital procurement, the role of key technologies, and barriers to adoption. The findings reveal that technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), Building Information Modelling (BIM), robotic process automation (RPA), and e-procurement systems are transforming procurement from a transactional function into a strategic, data-driven capability. These technologies enhance procurement performance by improving operational efficiency, cost optimization, transparency, and supply chain resilience. However, their adoption is constrained by key challenges, including system integration complexities, organizational resistance, skills gaps, and regulatory uncertainties. The study further demonstrates that the effectiveness of digital procurement depends on the integration and complementarity of technologies within interconnected ecosystems, supported by organizational readiness and technological capabilities. This study contributes to Procurement 4.0 literature by providing an integrated synthesis, developing a conceptual framework, and proposing a digital procurement maturity perspective to guide transformation in engineering procurement.
Awodele et al. (Wed,) studied this question.