
The Role of Geographic Information Systems in Supply Chain Management
Chapter from the book:
Sinap,
V.
(ed.)
2025.
Innovative Solutions and Contemporary Approaches in Management Information Systems.
Synopsis
Spatial data analytics, route optimization and logistics planning are powerful new tools that have become an indispensable support for better supply chain management, known as Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This study examines spatial sectors in the supply chain from energy, agriculture, construction, oil and other industries using GIS integrations. It also discusses the impact of GIS on decision-making processes, making the supply chain visible, efficient and sustainable. Indeed, GIS helps spatial analysis for logistics, inventory management and risk assessment, leading to better resource allocation and real-time monitoring. The second part of the study investigates the application of GIS in bioenergy, agricultural supply chains and basic infrastructure planning for the optimization of transportation routes, cost reduction and environmental impact minimization. Despite the long list of advantages, it has data integration, interoperability and technical complexity, among other challenges that hinder the wider use of GIS solutions in supply chain operations. Further efforts to address these challenges through advanced data analytics, AI, and better GIS tools could help further significantly improve this across global supply chain networks.