Aims and scope

International Journal of Logistics: Research & Applications publishes original and challenging work that has a clear applicability to the business world. As a result, the journal concentrates on papers of an academic journal standard but aimed at the practitioner as much as the academic. High quality contributions are therefore welcomed from both academics and professionals working in the field of logistics and supply chain management. Papers should further our understanding of logistics and supply chain management and make a significant original contribution to knowledge. In this context the term ’logistics’ is taken in its broadest context as "the management of processes, flow of materials and associated information along the entire supply chain, from raw materials through to the final user of the product". The journal covers all aspects of logistics and supply chain management including, but not limited to, the topics and areas listed below:

    Inbound and outbound logistics including distribution, transport, warehousing, 3PL and 4PL
    Materials Management MRP, DRP, ERP and Vendor or Co-Managed Inventories (VMI)
    Modelling and simulation of logistics and supply systems and processes
    Decision support tools, methods and systems such as Value Stream Mapping
    Intra and inter enterprise communication tools and methods such as EDI, Internet, Extranet, RFID etc.
    Approaches and methods for Collaborative, Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR)
    Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Efficient Consumer Response (ECR)
    Procurement, e-Commerce, e-auctions
    Mass Customisation, Order Postponement, Responsiveness
    Supplier Development
    Supply chain performance management
    Collaboration and relationship management approaches in supply chains including supplier networks
    Environmental and sustainability issues in logistics and supply chain including Reverse Logistics
    Managing international logistical operations including outsourcing
    Training and Education issues in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
    Research Methodologies
    Case studies

All published research articles in this journal have undergone rigorous peer review, based on initial editor screening and anonymous refereeing by independent expert referees. 

Special Issue on ChatGPT and Supply Chain Management: Implications for Supply Chain Optimization and Green Transformation
Submission Date: 2025-06-30

Special Issue Editor(s)

Ming-Lang Tseng, Institute of Innovation & Circular Economy, Asia University, Taiwan
tsengminglang@asia.edu.tw

Anthony SF Chiu , Department of Industrial Engineering, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
anthony.chiu@dlsu.edu.ph

Kuo-Jui Wu, Management School, Hainan University, China
garykjwu@hainanu.edu.cn

Kanchana Sethanan, Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University, Thailand
skanch@kku.ac.th

The advent of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies heralds a transformative era across multiple sectors, with ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI, spearheading this revolution. Beyond its foundational natural language processing capabilities, ChatGPT is being harnessed in diverse applications across fields such as medicine, academia, tourism, and science (Nautiyal et al., 2023; van Dis et al., 2023; Stokel-Walker and Van Noorden, 2023). Of particular note is ChatGPT’s potential to advance green and sustainable practices, which has attracted significant attention from both academic and industrial communities, positioning it as a pivotal tool in addressing global sustainability challenges (Zhu et al., 2023).

In the rapidly evolving landscape of global business, logistics and supply chain management serve as the critical backbone, ensuring the seamless flow of goods and services across borders. The increasing complexity and scale of supply chains, driven by globalization and heightened consumer expectations, necessitate innovative solutions to optimize operations, enhance decision-making processes, and ensure sustainability (Sodhi et al., 2022; Fosso Wamba et al., 2023). Amid these challenges, the advent of AI technologies, particularly ChatGPT, presents unprecedented opportunities to revolutionize logistics and supply chain management (Li et al., 2024; Wang et al., 2024). Specifically, ChatGPT’s applications in this sector are manifold, encompassing demand forecasting, inventory optimization, transportation planning, and real-time decision-making (Ko and Lee, 2024). By leveraging natural language processing and machine learning, ChatGPT can analyze vast datasets, predict trends, and facilitate strategic planning with remarkable precision and speed (Fosso Wamba et al., 2024).

The escalating environmental challenges and urgent need for sustainable development have brought the concept of green transformation to the forefront for industries worldwide (Bai et al., 2023). The transition towards eco-friendly practices, renewable energy sources, and sustainable resource management is crucial not only for mitigating climate change but also for ensuring long-term economic resilience and societal well-being. AI, specifically ChatGPT, plays a significant role in green transformation, with applications extending to energy optimization, sustainable supply chain management, waste reduction, and environmental monitoring (Bai et al., 2023). By harnessing its sophisticated natural language processing and machine learning capabilities, ChatGPT can analyze complex datasets, predict environmental impacts, and recommend sustainable practices with remarkable accuracy and efficiency (Khan et al., 2024). Furthermore, ChatGPT enhances public awareness and engagement by providing accessible, comprehensible information about sustainability practices and environmental impacts, fostering greater awareness and encouraging positive behavioral changes among consumers and stakeholders (Fosso Wamba et al., 2023). The importance of exploring ChatGPT’s role in green transformation is underscored by the growing recognition that technological innovation is key to addressing complex environmental issues, offering a pathway to more sustainable, resilient, and intelligent solutions (Fosso Wamba et al., 2023).

Digital transformation is redefining the modern business landscape, driving innovation, enhancing efficiency, and creating new opportunities for growth (Verhoef et al., 2021). This sweeping change involves integrating digital technologies into all aspects of business operations, fundamentally altering how organizations function and deliver value to customers. By leveraging ChatGPT’s capabilities, businesses can enhance customer interactions, streamline internal processes, drive data-driven decision-making, and foster innovation (Burström et al., 2021; Khalid, 2024). Specifically, by powering intelligent chatbots and virtual assistants, ChatGPT enables organizations to provide personalized, timely, and efficient customer support, thereby improving customer satisfaction and freeing up human resources for more complex tasks, thus increasing overall productivity (Paul et al., 2023). Beyond customer engagement, ChatGPT plays a pivotal role in automating and optimizing business processes by analyzing vast amounts of data and generating actionable insights, significantly streamlining operations, reducing costs, and improving accuracy (Beckmann and Hark, 2024). In the realm of data-driven decision-making, ChatGPT’s transformative capabilities empower businesses to make more informed, agile, and effective decisions, enhancing their competitive edge.

Therefore, this special issue aims to investigate the multifaceted impacts of ChatGPT, examining how this AI innovation is reshaping traditional business processes and fostering sustainable, efficient, and intelligent operational models. We focus specifically on its roles in logistics supply chain management, decision optimization, green transformation, and digital transformation. We invite submissions of analytical, quantitative empirical, and multi-methodological original research that explore ChatGPT’s potential applications and transformative effects in these key areas.

Topics covered in this special issue include (but are not limited to):

    Optimizing supply chain management with ChatGPT
    Enhancing decision optimization in supply chains using ChatGPT
    ChatGPT’s contribution to green transformation
    Revolutionizing digital transformation with ChatGPT
    Efficient route planning by using ChatGPT for dynamic and sustainable logistics solutions
    Real-time decision making by leveraging ChatGPT for improved supply chain resilience
    ChatGPT’s role in promoting eco-friendly logistics to reduce carbon footprints
    Customer-centric supply chains by enhancing user experience with ChatGPT
    Inventory management using ChatGPT to optimize stock levels and reduce waste
    Adaptive supply chains by leveraging ChatGPT for flexibility and responsiveness in operations
    Supplier collaboration by streamlining communication and coordination with ChatGPT
    Data-driven Supply chains using ChatGPT for advanced analytics and insights
    Risk mitigation using ChatGPT to forecast and manage supply chain disruptions

 Submission Instructions

Notes for Prospective Authors

The proposed papers should neither have been previously published nor be under active consideration for publication elsewhere. Instructions for authors can be found at the publisher’s website.

Manuscript submission information

Contributors with proposals for papers are encouraged to communicate with the editors by e-mail. Manuscripts that are currently under preparation are welcome, but we also expect manuscripts to be written as a result of this call. Manuscripts will be subject to a rigorous review process under the supervision of the Guest Editors and Editor-in-Chief, and accepted papers will be published online before print publication. Regarding the submission guidelines and other details, authors should refer to the details on the journal website. Please make sure you indicate that your manuscript is for the “ChatGPT and Supply Chain Management” SI when prompted in the submission portal.

Tentative timeline

Submission starts from: September 1, 2024
Submission deadline: June 30, 2025
Fully reviewed manuscript ready for production: As soon as possible