Supply chain transparency for sustainability, the role of technology: a systematic literature review

Purpose Stakeholders are increasingly demanding greater transparency regarding environmental and social indicators within global supply chains, yet organizations often lack the necessary capabilities to trace and retrieve end-to-end information. This study aims to investigate how technological capabilities enable transparency in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). Design/methodology/approach This study uses a systematic literature review; the study analyzes 92 peer-reviewed papers published between 2005 and 2025. Findings The findings categorize key technologies into functional areas, including blockchain for immutable transaction recording, IoT and sensors for real-time monitoring and data analytics for risk assessment. The review further demonstrates that technological capabilities function as strategic enablers of traceability, visibility, stakeholder communication and sustainability-oriented decision-making across supply chains. Results indicate that technology serves as a critical catalyst for transparency by facilitating collaboration, ensuring regulatory compliance and mitigating information asymmetry among stakeholders. However, the research also identifies significant challenges, such as high implementation costs, a lack of standardization, interoperability limitations, cybersecurity concerns and the need for complementary technologies to fully realize traceability benefits. Research limitations/implications This literature review aims to provide insights into the role of technology in achieving transparency within sustainable supply chain management from literature published in the past 20 years, from 2005 until 2025. However, it is subject to certain limitations, including the perspective and impact of the research algorithm used. In addition, the selection criteria for the reviewed papers represent another limitation, potentially influencing the comprehensiveness of the analysis. Practical implications This study will help the academic community by providing insights for SSCM with the use of technology as an enabler for achieving transparency. It will contribute to increasing the existing knowledge about SSCM literature and the research area of technology and operations management. Furthermore, in the managerial aspect, the main contribution would be for decision-making in the upstream and downstream actors of a supply chain. Social implications This literature review and its extended research agenda provide a comprehensive framework for academics and industry practitioners to explore innovative solutions for integrating technology into SSCM, ultimately fostering a more sustainable and ethically responsible supply chain ecosystem. Originality/value This study concludes by proposing a conceptual technological framework for sustainable supply chain transparency and outlines a future research agenda focused on practical blockchain implementation, AI-driven predictive sustainability analytics and the ethical balance of data openness. In addition, the study contributes to the SSCM literature by integrating technological, operational and sustainability perspectives into a unified analytical framework that bridges theory and practice. This research provides valuable insights for both academics and industry practitioners aiming to integrate technological solutions into sustainable operations.