Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to apply resource-based theory to identify the relationships between logistics integration capability, supply chain integration (SCI), and performance in the context of omni-channel retailing (OCR). Design/methodology/approach: An empirical study was conducted based on a mixed methodology that integrates survey research and focus group. In total, 243 retailers in China have been surveyed to examine the hypotheses of the proposed conceptual model, and focus group discussion has been applied to interpret the results and identify the critical concerns on the implementation of omni-channel (OC) strategy. Findings: This study reveals that the information integration capability and organization integration capability in logistics management significantly affects SCI, while the integrated supply chain has a greater significant influence on financial performance than operational performance to OC retailers. Moreover, a firm’s characteristics can be regarded as contextual factors influencing performance in OCR. Research limitations/implications: The authors obtained valuable insights for both academics and practitioners based on the findings. On the one hand, this is an early attempt to empirically study SCI of OCR, revealing the importance of a firm’s nature in the performance. Therefore, this study fills a current research gap. On the other hand, this research provides top managers of OC retailers, particularly supply chain managers, the awareness of the importance of improving of organizational integration and human-resource management capability. Additionally, this study proposes future research based on its limitations. Originality/value: SCI is investigated in the context of OCR from a logistics perspective. Moreover, this study reveals that the human-resource management and organization management are the main concerns in the implementation of OCR.

Purpose: Supply chain integration (SCI) is key to implementing omni-channel retailing (OCR) strategy. In this paper, the authors explore the role of digitalization as a driver of SCI, as well the role of human capital (HC) in digitalization, using a knowledge management (KM) perspective.Design/methodology/approach: An empirical study was conducted using survey research. A sample of 188 omni-channel retailers in the Chinese market was analyzed using factor analysis and structured equation modeling (SEM) to examine the hypotheses presented in the conceptual model.Findings: This study reveals that HC is positively related to the level of a firm's digitalization in OCR, and that digitalization is positively related to the retailer's SCI. Moreover, the authors found that employees' capital has a greater impact on digitalization than managers' capital, while digitalization has a stronger driving effect on internal and customer integration.Research limitations/implications: The findings suggest that although digitalization requires retailers to accept the long-term investment challenges, it has a significant positive effect on the key of OCR strategy implementation, i.e. SCI. The findings also provide evidence for the application of KM in OCR, as this theoretical lens enriches our understanding of the phenomena of SCI in OCR and provides explanation to our results by linking digitalization and HC.Originality/value: Digitalization is quantified and examined in OCR. Moreover, this study reveals the importance of HC on the implementation of digitalization and the different effects of digitalization on each dimension of SCI.

The omni-channel (OC) approach improves efficiency under normal conditions and fosters resilience when a crisis hits, e.g. COVID-19. We adopt the sequential mixed methods research to conduct a two-stage investigation to explore how OC retailers achieve supply chain resilience (SCR). In stage 1, three key capabilities of OC retailers to foster SCR are identified qualitatively, i.e. collaboration, flexibility, and redundancy, as well as the conceptual model is developed based on the dynamic capabilities view. In stage 2, the roles of key capabilities in fostering SCR in three phases, i.e. preparedness, responsiveness, and recovery, is quantitatively examined, by using partial least squares structural equation modelling to test the hypotheses based on a sample of 225 Chinese OC retailers. The findings indicate that flexibility and redundancy are more significant for responsiveness, whilst collaboration is more crucial for recovery, offering valuable insights for supporting retailers in OC transformation and in setting a capabilities portfolio to withstand supply chain disruptions.

Although the importance and benefits of logistics integration in omni-channel (OC) retailing have been discussed in the literature, the impacts of logistics integration from the dimension of internal and external logistics remain unknown. To fill this gap, this study aims to investigate the relationships among internal and external logistics integration capabilities, supply-chain integration (SCI), and financial performance (FP) in OC retailing based on the dynamic capability view. An empirical study is conducted based on a survey of 230 OC retailers in China’s market. Factor analysis and regression analysis are conducted to examine the hypotheses of the proposed conceptual model. The quantitative analyses show that the internal logistics integration capability is significantly related to the external logistics integration capability, and they both have positive effects on SCI, while the external logistics integration capability generates a higher impact (i.e., almost 1.5 times that of the internal logistics integration capability). The numerical results also demonstrate that the logistics integration capabilities and SCI have similar positive effects on FP (i.e., all the relevant regression coefficients show values around 0.25), and SCI plays a partial intermediary role in the relationships between logistics integration capabilities and FP. Furthermore, the quantitative evidence addresses the fact that the FP is not influenced by OC retailers’ characteristics, indicating a fair business environment in the OC retail industry.

Purpose: In the face of frequent supply chain disruptions, this study aims to identify the relationships between human capital (HC), digital supply chain practice (DSCP) and supply chain robustness and resilience (i.e. SCRO and SCRE).Design/methodology/approach: To examine the proposed conceptual model based on the resource-based view and organizational information processing theory, an empirical study was conducted using a sample of Chinese manufacturers. Hierarchical regression is applied to understand the direct effect, mediating effect and moderating effect among HC, DSCP, SCRO, SCRE and digital culture.Findings: The results reveal that HC positively influences digital maturity and supply chain resilience. DSCP positively affects both SCRO and SCRE. However, HC does not significantly influence the adoption of digital tools, and only employees’ capital has a positive relationship with SCRO. In addition, the moderating effect of digital culture on the relationship between HC and DSCP was examined.Originality/value: As an early exploration of the relationships among HC, DSCP, SCRO and SCRE, this study enriches the literature by offering new insights and responding to the call for more empirical research and theoretical application. It emphasizes the importance of HC and DSCP as strategic resources and highlights the need for a digital culture to implement DSCP.