Track: Panels on Supply Chain, Industry 4.0, Smart Mobility and WIIA

Abstract

Through an empirical study of 74 Portuguese e-commerce brands, from the fashion, cosmetics, supplements, jewelry, beverages, utilities, orthopedics, book, sports, technology, decoration, pet, printing, and flowers’ sectors, it was noticed that consumers still do not have the possibility to personalize their products neither to request immediate deliveries or choose an exact delivery time. Nowadays, the Industry is striving to allow consumers to buy the product they want, as they wish, and be delivered in the time and place they choose. The purchase personalization and the supply chain’s arrangement to attend to the demand are expected to be increasingly based on predictive analytics. Prediction shall guide the definition of the supply chain. Moreover, the collaboration between stakeholders through an open marketplace is required to fulfill clients’ needs and desires. Given the observed facts and empirical evidence, this paper highlights the importance of integrating manufacturing and delivery, supported by an Hourglass shared economy prediction-oriented supply chain model.