Title: Artificial intelligence and vaccine supply chain: analysis of the adoption challenges in the Indian context

Authors: Ambuj Kumar; Om Ji Shukla; Shailesh Mani Pandey

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Patna, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Patna, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Patna, India

Abstract: Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with the vaccine supply chain (VSC) can generate a robust VSC model, making it easier to supply chain live-saving vaccines and drugs. This study aims to explore challenges in integrating VSC and AI through an extensive literature survey and then validation by a team of experts through the Delphi method. The study takes into account the opinions of important groups, such as government agencies, hospitals, drug companies, and tech companies. The challenges are modelled by a multi-criteria decision-making method integrated with a fuzzy method named as fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (FDEMATEL) technique. The results indicate that 'long-term sustainability', 'adoption and skill gap' and 'cost and resource constraints' are the most prominent challenges that must be addressed for the successful integration of AI in VSC. The information learned from this study can help the supply chain for vaccines in India.

Keywords: artificial intelligence; AI; vaccine supply chain; VSC; DEMATEL; robust model.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIE.2025.147690

International Journal of Intelligent Enterprise, 2025 Vol.12 No.3/4, pp.288 - 304

Received: 30 Oct 2023
Accepted: 30 Jul 2024
Published online: 25 Jul 2025 *

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