In recent years, the world has witnessed unprecedented disruptions triggered by a wide range of phenomena, including natural disasters, pandemics, financial crises, geopolitical tensions, and armed conflicts. These events, whether frequent or rare, short-lived or prolonged, have generated impacts that vary from localized operational setbacks to severe, systemic breakdowns affecting entire industries and global markets. Such turbulence has exposed the structural fragility of traditional centralized supply chains, revealing their limited capacity to absorb shocks and maintain continuity under extreme uncertainty. Against this backdrop, this study investigates the key drivers of supply chain decentralization as a strategic response to large-scale disruptions, with particular attention to the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and climate-related disasters. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to analyze peer-reviewed academic research, enabling the identification of dominant themes, emerging patterns, and strategic priorities within the decentralization discourse. The findings highlight resilience and organizational capability as critical protective mechanisms against global shocks. Simultaneously, technology-enabled innovation, such as advanced analytics, automation, and real-time visibility systems, emerges as a powerful catalyst for enhancing adaptability and responsiveness. Together, these strategic priorities support the design and implementation of robust, flexible, and decentralized supply chains capable of withstanding future disruptions.

Keywords 

Supply chain decentralisation, Disruption, Digital technology, Resiliency, Digital transformation