Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainable warehousing: A systematic literature review

In recent years, the literature has seen substantial growth in studies at the nexus of Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainability warehouse management. In the light of growing research on the topic, this study aims to consolidate the existing knowledge base, focus of research, methodological development, gaps, and opportunities for more impactful future research in the area. A widely accepted systematic literature review methodology was employed on a sample of 36 peer-reviewed articles retrieved from the two large databases: Scopus and EBCOHost. The analysis revealed several interesting findings, including: the positive association between Industry 4.0 technologies and warehouse sustainability; shortage of empirical research on the topic; imbalance amid studies on three main aspects of warehouse sustainability; limited application of some Industry 4.0 technologies; and disproportion in scholarly focus between warehouse activities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic literature review at the intersection of Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainable warehousing. Theoretically, this review expands the existing knowledge base and opens several avenues for more fruitful future research, thus proving a sound premise to advance the field of research. From a practical standpoint, our review integrates scattered literature in one place, thereby help improve practitioners’ understanding of various Industry 4.0 technologies and their significance for sustainable warehouse operations.