Search Results (3)

Stakeholder fragmentation in transdisciplinary research often impedes innovation in South Africa’s tourism sector. The real-time supply network for MSMEs in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal struggles with digital adoption, limiting its resilience despite rising demand in the digital economy. This study examined how a transdisciplinary approach can enhance the Tourism Supply Chain Network in these regions—an urban hub (Gauteng) and a coastal cultural destination (KwaZulu-Natal)—to unlock their potential. Employing action research, this study engaged stakeholders (tourism operators, tech developers, and communities) to co-create data-driven digital solutions, including a real-time supply network. The collected data included both qualitative insights from workshops and interviews, as well as quantitative metrics such as platform usage and tourist engagement, which were analysed using descriptive statistics. Innovative technologies improved the supply chain efficiency, cutting coordination delays by 25% in Gauteng and boosting rural tourism visibility in KwaZulu-Natal, with a 30% increase in bookings. Gauteng saw urban connectivity gains, while KwaZulu-Natal achieved inclusive growth. This study provides a scalable, data-driven framework for digitalisation in tourism supply networks, offering practical strategies for stakeholders. It advances innovative technologies in emerging markets, emphasising the transformative potential of transdisciplinary collaboration to build resilient, collaborative tourism ecosystems in South Africa. Full article

The circular economy (CE) model has gained greater recognition and acceptance in recent years for its potential to enhance sustainability. Within this context, many practices in the retail sector are being overhauled through technological innovation, thereby changing the business landscape. Digitalization facilitates this transformation to mitigate the impacts of climate change without sacrificing productivity. This article explored the implications of digitalization in retail processes for CE in Nigeria and advanced practices that improve efficiency. Research efforts on circularity and digitalization have concentrated on advanced economies; consequently, little is known about the situation in lower-income countries. Due to the exploratory nature of this research, a qualitative approach that combined multiple data sources was adopted. Specifically, a case study of four major grocery retailers was carried out through documentary evidence supplemented by integrating thematic categories from semi-structured interviews with seasoned retail professionals. The findings revealed that (i) the circularity paradigm is a relatively vague concept among retailers in Nigeria; (ii) digital technologies are adopted primarily for the business value they create rather than to regenerate the ecosystem; (iii) the retailers have adopted technological processes such as e-commerce channel, automation, real-time tracking, social media marketing, and digital payment; and (iv) retailers familiar with circularity favor shortening supply chains by investing in rural hubs, food waste reduction, and closed-loops and reducing the use of non-biodegradable packaging. Retail managers could gain insights from these results to move towards CE, foster efficient business processes, and enhance customer satisfaction. Full article

One of the possible solutions of rural development is rural Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs). Rural DIHs represent an efficient way of improving local environments in a more sustainable way, by affecting local businesses, people and local authorities. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the concept of a rural DIH by exploring the following elements: business model, digital technology and competences, and the policy instrument. We investigate the above-mentioned conceptual elements by conducting a literature review study and synthesizing the findings. Additionally, we provide a case study of the Divina Wine Hub Šmarje as an example of a rural DIH, whose activities are aimed at supporting rural businesses and individuals. The results show that a rural DIH does have a positive impact on local businesses, in particular regarding their sustainability aspect. The local DIH explained in the case study provides possibilities for local businesses to use innovative technological solutions, by supporting them with the right technological equipment and skilled people. From an economic point of view on sustainability, this resulted in business processes optimization, cost reduction, employment opportunities, as well as the strengthening of sustainable consumption and marketing for the winegrowers. Furthermore, it adds to environmental sustainability by adequately assessing the conditions in the vineyards to determine the optimal time and location of effective action, resulting in reducing the environmental footprint. All of this together also contributes to social sustainability by providing fairer distribution of social opportunities and digital inclusion. In this manner, we conclude that rural DIHs should be part of the Smart transformations of rural areas and included in rural development policies. Full article