Operational Impact of Information System Integration on Cost Efficiency, Inventory Control, and Timeliness in Citrus Supply Chain Dynamics

Abstract

The present research investigates information systems adoption in Moroccan Citrus Packing Stations (CPS) and its operational implications for supply chain dynamics amid the challenging climatic conditions of the 2022-2023. This study focuses on examining the impact of integrated information systems (IS) on cost efficiency, inventory control, and delivery timeliness in the citrus sector, a vital component of Morocco's national economy. Adopting a sequential exploratory design, the initial qualitative phase entailed five semi-structured interviews with key personnel in CPS; which enabled the creation of survey items for the subsequent quantitative analysis, where a questionnaire was distributed to all 50 operational citrus packing stations in Morocco, achieving an 80% response rate (Bentaleb & Taki, 2023). The data analysis involved thematic analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and simple regression, thus ensuring a comprehensive assessment of the effects of information system implementation. The results indicate that the successful integration of information systems has a substantial impact on reducing operating costs, improving inventory management, and enhancing delivery timeliness in the realm of CPS. These enhancements are of greatest significance for the sector's ability to effectively respond to the dynamic market demands and environmental constraints. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the significance of integrating information systems in order to achieve efficient supply chain management, particularly in managing perishable products like citrus fruits. Still, the study acknowledges its limitations since it primarily focuses on Moroccan CPS. This implies the necessity for cross-national research to provide more comprehensive perspectives (Bentaleb & Taki, 2023). The practical implications of this study are substantial for CPS and the broader agricultural sector, offering actionable insights for leveraging technology in optimizing supply chain operations. This research makes an important contribution by building upon the foundational research conducted by Bentaleb and Taki (2023) and providing empirical evidence on the operational impacts of information systems on SCM metrics within the agri-sector. It highlights the capacity of information systems to not solely address present challenges but also to proactively contribute to the development of a more effective and sustainable future for the farming industry as a whole.

Keywords: Information Systems Integration, Cost Efficiency, Inventory Management, Delivery Timeliness, Citrus Supply Chain Dynamics.

Classification JEL : Q13, O33, Q12, C88

Paper type: Empirical Research