Towards collaborative smart supply chains: Capabilities for business development

The purpose of this study is to research the transition towards collaborative smart supply chains and the capabilities required by its actors in different network roles. Based on earlier literature the preliminary framework of the paper defines the four roles (customer, manufacturer, supplier, and partner) and the different required capabilities. The framework is tested in case research carried out with four network companies in one supply chain. A clear implication of the preliminary framework, empirical evidence, and required capabilities is that the transition towards collaborative smart supply chains challenges all the participating actors to update their thinking.