SAAS-ORIENTED LOGISTICS SYSTEMS AS A FACTOR IN ENSURING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPPLY CHAINS

Abstract

The article elucidates the pivotal role of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions in logistics as a driver of sustainable supply-chain development. The relevance of the study is framed by businesses’ increasing need to reconcile efficiency with mounting sustainability requirements amid global disruptions. Contemporary trends in the deployment of SaaS-centric logistics systems are synthesised, and their impact on economic, environmental, and social performance dimensions of supply chains is assessed. Empirical findings demonstrate that cloud-based logistics platforms markedly enhance supply-chain flexibility, transparency, and adaptive capacity, thereby enabling cost reductions, waste minimisation, lower greenhouse-gas emissions, and improvements in social outcomes – most notably safer working conditions and more transparent supplier relations. The study’s originality lies in the conceptual framework proposed for assessing the contribution of SaaS logistics solutions to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within supply-chain management. A structural–logical model is developed that maps the influence of key characteristics of SaaS-oriented logistics systems – such as real-time visibility, advanced analytics, and modular scalability – onto the triple-bottom-line pillars of sustainability (economic, environmental, and social). From a managerial standpoint, the results furnish actionable guidance for firms seeking to leverage SaaS platforms to bolster supply-chain resilience and eco-efficiency. Specific recommendations include route-optimisation algorithms that curtail fuel consumption, inventory-management modules that reduce obsolete stock and associated waste, and collaborative portals that intensify cross-tier information sharing. These measures collectively foster a more circular and responsible flow of goods, aligning corporate logistics strategies with broader ESG commitments and regulatory pressures. The study also highlights avenues for further research, such as longitudinal benchmarking of SaaS adoption trajectories across industries, quantification of indirect social benefits (e.g., workforce upskilling through technology use), and examination of interoperability standards that could accelerate ecosystem-wide diffusion of cloud logistics. Scholars at the intersection of supply-chain management and sustainability strategy may thus employ the proposed framework as a foundational lens for investigating digital innovations that underpin the transition toward carbon-neutral and socially equitable supply networks. Ultimately, the evidence presented affirms that SaaS-enabled logistics is not merely an operational upgrade, but a strategic imperative for organisations intent on meeting the exigencies of twenty-first-century sustainable development.