Technology, people and sustainability: The shift towards Supply Chain 5.0
A new chapter co-authored by MMTC member Carla Goncalves Machado Opens in new window. examines the transition from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0 and the technological, human and environmental considerations needed to create more sustainable and resilient supply chains.
Carla Goncalves Machado, together with Anna Ericson Öberg, Leo de Vin, Lars Hanson, Siri Jagstedt and Janerik Odhe, has contributed the chapter “Supply Chains: Navigating the Shift to I5.0” to the Springer volume Technology Management for Intelligent, Open and Responsible Organizations and Ecosystems. The E-Book presents research from the 34th International Association for Management of Technology (IAMOT) Conference, held in Montreal, Canada, in 2025, bringing together perspectives on technology management and the development of intelligent, open and responsible organisations and ecosystems.
What does the move to Industry 5.0 mean for supply chains?
While Industry 4.0 has largely focused on digitalisation, automation and connected technologies, Industry 5.0 places greater emphasis on how technological development can support human and environmental priorities.
Through a literature review, Carla and her co-authors identify conditions and strategies that can enable the transition towards Supply Chain 5.0. Advanced technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain remain important, but their effective integration depends on wider organisational capabilities. Among the factors highlighted are digital maturity and workforce upskilling, alongside the integration of circular economy models, cybersecurity and adaptability. The chapter also emphasises the role of human creativity and problem-solving alongside technological capabilities. Taken together, the findings point to a broader understanding of supply chain transformation: one in which organisations need to consider not only which technologies to adopt, but also whether they have the skills, capabilities and organisational conditions required to use them effectively.
Connecting technology with organisational transformation
The chapter aligns closely with MMTC’s research on digital transformation and sustainability. In particular, it highlights an important aspect of organisational transformation: technological change is closely connected to the development of people, capabilities and organisational practices. By examining the conditions that can enable or hinder the transition to Supply Chain 5.0, the research contributes to understanding how organisations can manage technological development while responding to growing expectations around sustainability, resilience and human-centred ways of working.
