A Decision Framework for Supplier Selection in Digital Supply Chains of E-Commerce Platforms Using Interval-Valued Intuitionistic Fuzzy VIKOR Methodology

Digital supply chains (DSCs) are value-driven and collaborative digital systems designed to generate business value for firms through various innovative technologies. Today, we are witnessing companies transitioning from traditional supply chain models to DSCs through digital technologies. The effective selection of digital suppliers during these digital transformation processes is a strategic research topic. Additionally, factors such as the proliferation of information and communication technologies, globalization, and the pandemic have contributed to the expansion of e-commerce platforms. In this rapid growth phase, identifying the right supplier is crucial for the success of e-commerce sites. This study aims to develop an innovative, integrated, and comprehensive decision-making methodology to assist e-commerce platforms in selecting appropriate suppliers for their DSCs. To achieve this, an extended fuzzy VlseKriterijuska Optimizacija I Komoromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method is tested, where criteria and alternative evaluations made by decision-makers (DMs) are characterized by interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (IVIFNs). The proposed decision mechanism is tested on the DSS problem of an e-commerce platform specializing in household products. Findings of the application, which uses three experts’ opinion to evaluate four digital suppliers based on the seven criteria, are discussed to help e-commerce sites conduct the DSS process more effectively.