Digital twins in supply chain management: a review of their role in boosting operational efficiency

Purpose This study explores how digital twin technology boosts operational efficiency within supply chains. It identifies key attributes influencing logistics and performance, synthesizing existing research insights and highlights knowledge gaps to guide organizations considering digital twin adoption. Design/methodology/approach The research involved a systematic literature review, focusing on articles from 2014 to 2024, sourced from the Science Direct database. Keywords related to digital twins and supply chain management informed the selection criteria. Findings Findings reveal significant benefits from digital twin integration, including process optimization, error reduction and shorter production cycles (15–25%). Energy consumption and downtime decrease by 15–20%, while productivity improves by up to 25%. Additionally, cost savings of up to 30% are achieved, along with enhanced flexibility, responsiveness to market changes and resilience to disruptions. Collaboration among stakeholders within the supply chain is also strengthened. Originality/value This research positions digital twins as a strategic tool for supply chain optimization. It offers practitioners and researchers a robust conceptual foundation to assess their impact on operational efficiency and paves the way for further exploration in this transformative area.