Digital Supply Chain Management and Digital Inclusion in Food & Beverage Companies in Nigeria: The Mediating Role of Sustainability

Abstract

Digital Supply Chain Management (DSCM) is increasingly viewed as a catalyst for organizational transformation, yet its role in advancing digital inclusion remains underexplored, particularly in emerging economies. Prior research has largely focused on the efficiency and technological gains of DSCM, overlooking the extent to which sustainability may serve as a bridge between digitalization and inclusive outcomes. This study addresses that gap by investigating the mediating effects of economic, social, and environmental sustainability on the relationship between DSCM and digital inclusion in Nigeria’s food and beverage sector. Adopting a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 256 staff at multiple organizational levels across food and beverage companies in Nigeria. Using PROCESS Macro (Model 4, parallel mediation), both direct and indirect pathways were tested. The findings reveal that DSCM positively influences all three dimensions of sustainability, each of which significantly predicts digital inclusion. Mediation analysis demonstrates that DSCM’s impact on inclusion operates entirely through sustainability, with economic sustainability exerting the strongest influence, followed by social and environmental dimensions. This study concludes that digital transformation on its own is insufficient to foster inclusive outcomes unless complemented by sustainable practices. The study recommends that managers should align digitalization strategies with fair procurement, timely payments, digital literacy programs, and environmentally responsible initiatives. Policymakers are also encouraged to design enabling policies and incentives that support the integration of sustainability within digital supply chain practices.