Artificial intelligence in sustainable supplier search: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis using Scopus database

Sustainable suppliers play a crucial role in achieving environmental, social, and economic goals in procurement. By prioritizing sustainable suppliers, organizations can create a more resilient, efficient, and responsible supply chain that aligns with broader sustainability objectives and stakeholder expectations. On the other hand, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly growing and evolving, and the integration of AI across various industries is not only reshaping business operations but also influencing daily life and economic structures. However, the application of AI in supply chain management (in the context of sustainable suppliers), is rather limited. Therefore, the main objective of this research study is to contribute to the organization and analysis of scientific literature related to the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in studies revolving around sustainable suppliers. Utilizing the R studio’s Bibliometrix bibliometric tool and quantitative approach, the research identifies patterns and trends in publications globally. The key terms "SUSTAINABLE SUPPLIER" and "ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE" were used for search of one of the most renowned global scientific databases, namely the Scopus scientific database. The findings of the bibliometric study of 140 papers reveals significant insights, including the scarcity of empirical research in sustainable supplier search with the application of artificial intelligence. Moreover, identification of key research themes and current trend topics, the annual scientific production, the most relevant authors, the most cited countries, the most cited and relevant articles, the most relevant sources, the most relevant affiliations, the co-occurrence network, the most frequent words as well as visualization of thematic map and word cloud associated with sustainable suppliers and artificial intelligence. The publications synthesis should serve as a basis for policymakers, procurement departments and procurement management, and researchers navigating the evolving application of AI in sustainable supplier search.