Title: Supply chain traceability: a literature review

Authors: Sila Anwar; Rameez Khalid; Abdul Qadus

Addresses: Department of Management, Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, Pakistan ' Department of Management, Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, Pakistan ' Department of Management Science, Lancaster University Management School, Lancaster, UK

Abstract: Supply chain traceability is one of the most important and emerging concepts in the current complex and challenging environment. It allows for the fast recognition and mitigation of problems like delay, quality, and security in supply chain management. It also addresses the issues of legal compliance, product quality and safety, and customers' trust. Our study synthesises literature profiling 344 peer-reviewed articles and conducts a thematic bibliometric analysis of 148 articles, identifying five main clusters: RFID technology, blockchain technology, food supply chain, supply chain management activities, and supply chain management integration. Both RFID and blockchain are widely researched in the context of their influence on supply chain traceability. The literature also discusses the sectorial approach to food supply chains and the interaction of the upstream and downstream elements, mimicking the layers of supply chain management. The most prominent authors, journals and articles in the field are then identified and lastly an agenda for future research is presented.

Keywords: supply chain; traceability; track and trace; bibliometric review.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2026.155904

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2026 Vol.54 No.4, pp.507 - 537

Received: 26 May 2024
Accepted: 10 Jun 2024
Published online: 26 Aug 2026 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article