International Scientific Conference “Business and Management"
May 14-15, 2026 The conference will be held in English.
Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Sustainability in industry: assessing responsible production practices in Kazakhstan
Responsible production is critical to sustainable industrial development, yet its implementation varies across sectors. This study investigates the state of responsible production practices in Kazakhstan, focusing on environmental compliance, operational efficiency, and employee well-being. A structured survey was conducted among 100 Kazakh enterprises across key industrial sectors, including metallurgy, mechanical engineering, and energy production. The survey utilised proportional sampling to ensure representation, and data were systematically analysed using SPSS for statistical processing. Descriptive and comparative analyses were conducted to identify trends, challenges, and sectoral differences. The results reveal that while most companies report moderate improvements in operational efficiency, significant challenges remain in environmental responsibility. Only a small percentage allocate resources for ecological investments. Waste management and reverse logistics are underdeveloped, with many companies lacking structured recycling and sustainability initiatives. Although 80% of firms report some engagement in eco-innovations, adopting advanced technologies remains limited. Employee well-being initiatives, including workplace improvements and insurance coverage, are widely implemented, but psychological support services remain inconsistent. These findings highlight both progress and persistent gaps in responsible production in Kazakhstan, underscoring the need for stronger regulatory frameworks, increased investment in eco-innovation, and a shift toward circular economy principles.
Green Economy and Sustainable Development
Copyright (c) 2025 The Author(s). Published by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Enhancing green sustainable growth through green innovation: the moderating role of perceived marketplace influence
In the context of technologies driving corporations’ investment in green innovation initiatives, this study employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative thematic analysis and quantitative structural equation modeling to examine how green innovation activities influence consumer attitudes, purchase intentions, and brand defense behaviors. Qualitative insights drawn from consumer narratives enrich the quantitative findings by uncovering deeper motivations and emotional factors influencing consumer behavior towards green products. The findings reveal that firms’ green innovation significantly positive impact on customer green behaviors through their environmental concerns and perceptions of innovation. Additionally, the customer’s perceived marketplace influence plays a crucial role in reinforcing the customer’s perceptions of innovation on their green purchase intention, while diminishing the customer’s environmental concerns on their green brand defense. Through green marketing strategies, including transparent communication, credible certifications, and explicit sustainability claims, the organization’s green innovation practices significantly influence consumer attitudes and willingness to purchase green products. Furthermore, the findings emphasize the critical roles of brand reputation, transparency, and consumer trust in stimulating proactive brand defense against negative publicity as well as the importance of emotional attachments and personal experiences in driving these defensive behaviors.
Consumers’ perceptions of corporate social responsibility: scale development, validation, and reliability testing
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) plays a crucial role in shaping contemporary business strategies, influencing customer perceptions, enhancing brand reputation, and driving competitive advantage. This study addresses the need for a reliable instrument to evaluate consumer perceptions of CSR initiatives. It focuses on four dimensions of CSR: economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic responsibilities. The study developed and validated a research instrument through a pilot study involving a focus group and 120 survey respondents. The instrument demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.857 to 0.907 across the scales, underscoring its reliability and accuracy. These values indicate that the scales are statistically robust and suitable for larger-scale studies. Key findings reveal insights into consumer attitudes toward CSR initiatives across different responsibilities, highlighting the relevance of ethical and philanthropic efforts in shaping perceptions. This study not only contributes to the growing body of literature on CSR but also provides businesses with an evidence-based approach to understanding consumer expectations and refining CSR strategies. The validated research instrument establishes a foundation for future studies with larger and more diverse samples.
Business Technologies and Sustainable Entrepreneurship
A study of decentralized finance auditing using financial technologies
This article explores the application of financial technologies in the auditing of decentralized finance (DeFi) and how these technologies can improve the audit process. The research aims to identify the main challenges faced in DeFi auditing and to offer recommendations for strengthening audit methodologies using financial technologies (FinTech). The article discusses decentralized finance and its innovative management principles based on blockchain technology, which fundamentally transforms traditional financial systems. The study identifies key risks associated with DeFi, such as vulnerabilities in smart contracts and the lack of regulatory frameworks. The theoretical foundation includes a detailed analysis of the differences between traditional and decentralized finance, highlighting DeFi’s advantages – lower operational costs, greater accessibility, and transparency – while addressing regulatory and security challenges. The research methodology is based on scientific literature analysis and the classification of FinTech tools according to established criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of audit methods and their potential for improvement. The main findings show that FinTech tools, such as artificial intelligence (e.g., decision tree models) and blockchain technology, enhance the reliability and speed of DeFi audits while highlighting the need for a more robust regulatory system. This article is relevant due to the rapid growth of the DeFi sector and its importance in the digital transformation of the financial industry. Moreover, this research aims to classify the most widely used financial technology tools according to their functions and analyze their impact on traditional and decentralized finance auditing processes, offering insights for improving audit methodologies.
Finance and Investment: New Challenges and Opportunities
Industry 4.0 technologies and enterprise architectures: boosters for circular business models
The transition to circular business models poses significant challenges, particularly for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). These challenges arise from different perspectives. Strategic alignment and technological barriers are just two of them. This paper aims to explore how Industry 4.0 technologies and Enterprise Architectures can facilitate the implementation of circular business models. By analyzing their role in overcoming key obstacles, the study explores the potential of these technologies in driving sustainable business transformation. The findings indicate that while integrating circularity into business practices remains complex, Enterprise Architectures, through the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, can mitigate some barriers. Ultimately, the synergy between technological innovation and circular business models can accelerate the shift towards sustainability.
Public perception of sustainable biofertilizers from food processing residues
Social acceptance and citizens’ opinions are key factors in transition towards sustainable food systems. This study analyzes citizen perspectives on using biofertilizers and soil improvers derived from food processing residues. Surveying over 1000 participants across Finland, the research evaluates public expectations, concerns, and knowledge gaps regarding sustainability, environmental impact, and safety. Results show high interest in biofertilizers’ ecological benefits but also concerns about chemical content and long-term effects on soil health. These insights inform the development of business strategies and regulatory policies within the circular economy, promoting sustainable agricultural products that align with both consumer preferences and economic policy frameworks.
A proposed framework for developing a corporate roadmap towards sustainable innovation and technology adoption
In 2016, a beverage company in South Africa called Alpha underwent a major merger and change of ownership whilst trying to navigate a challenging macro environment. As a result, conflicting business models and ineffective innovation have resulted in a lack of innovation and an inefficient supply chain in the company. The business and innovation challenges experienced by Alpha generated the research objectives of this study, which were to identify inhibitors to the company’s drive for innovation and to develop a framework for a strategic corporate roadmap to enable Alpha to initiate and sustain innovation and adopt technology in the future. A theoretical framework was developed from a review of corporate innovation literature and included scenario analysis and PESTLE and SWOT analyses as methodologies. The framework was tested in Alpha, as a single case study, and the Delphi technique was applied to interview company experts regarding the potential outcome of three scenarios, namely the impact of electricity, water, and food shortages on the company. Analysis of the responses indicated that the block on innovation was not the result of a lack of ideas from employees, but rather the lack of a proper forum to brainstorm and present them. Innovation potential was dormant within the business, and the correct tools and framework were needed to guide it; the framework was developed to create a sustainable, long-term innovation implementation and technology adoption plan for the business. While the framework has limitations, it does offer the business an actionable work plan that can engage creative thought, give direction to technical teams, and mitigate new competitor risks.
Investigation of financial fraud detection by using big data analytics
The aim of this study is to examine the application of big data analytics in financial fraud detection, considering advancements in modern technology and the increasing complexity of financial crime schemes. The research is based on an extensive review of the scientific literature, data synthesis, and the application of empirical methods, including clustering analysis using the UMAP algorithm, graphical visualization techniques, and descriptive statistics, to systematically assess fraud detection mechanisms and their effectiveness. The findings reveal that advanced artificial intelligence techniques, such as deep neural networks and random forest models, enable the efficient detection of financial fraud in real time. Big data analytics not only facilitates the processing of vast financial transaction datasets but also allows for the integration of diverse data sources and the development of adaptive predictive models capable of adjusting to evolving fraud patterns. However, the study also highlights critical challenges, including data quality assurance, privacy protection, and the need for significant computational resources. The practical significance of this research lies in the development of more effective financial fraud prevention strategies, enhancing the resilience and trustworthiness of the financial sector. These insights are particularly valuable for banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions seeking to mitigate fraud risks and safeguard clients from potential losses. The originality of the study is reflected in its systematic evaluation of the application of big data analytics in financial fraud prevention, grounded in the integration of theoretical and practical knowledge.
The possibilities of applying Kansei engineering and eye-tracking to enhance the user experience of the website
Kansei engineering focuses on developing or improving products and services by projecting the customer’s psychological feelings and needs into the field of product design. The main objective of the presented paper is to analyze Kansei engineering and the use of eye-tracking on a specific website, focusing on consumer experience when using the website and on its selected elements. The study includes a questionnaire survey the results of which are processed using IBM SPSS and GRETL software. For calculation of the required metrics over the time frame of interest, the multimodal software package Imotions is used. The research sample consists of 54 respondents (Management students), of which 52% (N = 28) were female and 48% (N = 26) were male aged 18 to 26 years. The results obtained indicate that there are several statistically significant correlations between the examined variables, namely between website design and clear understanding of controls, website transparency and color, product variety and order placement, and between easy website navigation and information display. Discussion of these results allows to identify which products or areas of a webpage are attractive to users and why. This approach can be applied to various types of websites, from e-shops to information portals, and makes it easier to propose effective improvements aimed at increasing interaction, satisfaction and conversions.
Driving factors for the transformation to sustainable entrepreneurship in small and medium production companies
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are significant contributors to economic growth. Being the most represented group of enterprises, SMEs can carry the greatest weight in contributing to sustainable development by transforming into sustainable entrepreneurship (SE). However, SMEs are substantially limited in resources, and to assist SMEs, first and foremost, it is important to understand what facilitates the transformation. Thus, the study’s objective was to identify driving factors for transformation to SE in production SMEs. A monographic literature review was conducted to provide a comprehensive summary of the latest research. Further, as a result of the secondary data and the content analysis methods, 6 driving and 7 assisting factors were identified that support the central feature of transformation to SE – the ability to find new opportunities. Based on the connections among the discovered factors, the authors developed an Innovation-Driven Development (IDD) conceptual framework. The framework illustrates the pathway to SE for production SMEs.
Does cultural heritage act as a driver of sustainable development? A critical approach to UNESCO World Heritage Data
This study examines UNESCO’s role in preserving and promoting international cultural heritage, assessing the effectiveness, challenges, and opportunities of its guidelines. Adopting a critical approach, it analyzes scientific literature and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per macro-area data linked to UNESCO’s World Heritage List Statistics to assess heritage governance. Central to the discussion are issues of disparities, inclusion, and marginalization processes in international heritage, which may significantly influence the sustainable development of the considered macro-areas. By synthesizing existing research and identifying knowledge gaps, the study aims to enhance understanding of UNESCO’s heritage efforts and provide recommendations for strengthening conservation strategies amid emerging global challenges.
Developing a lifelong learning service model to enhance SME competitiveness in the green transition
The realization of the green transition requires sustainable, carbon-neutral industry, with a skilled workforce, which needs a new service model of lifelong learning to facilitate this systemic change. In Finland, three Universities of Applied Sciences are collaboratively developing a lifelong learning service model (LLLSM) to enhance the competitiveness of SMEs in three sectors of the manufacturing industry. By promoting industrial sustainability and carbon neutrality, the pilot addresses critical needs for skills development and knowledge sharing. The methodology focused on co-creation within a collaborative network, utilizing surveys, interviews, and pilot implementations to develop the model. Academic, industrial, and sectoral stakeholders participated in the design of this practical and scalable solution. The piloted LLLSM model provides SMEs with tools to adopt green practices and supports their role in a sustainable and competitive economy.
Circular economy principles at the sustainable tourism development: the actuality review
This article provides a review of Circular Economy (CE) scientific approaches within the context of sustainable tourism, discussing relevance and applicability of the topic in today’s dynamic economic environment. The review highlights the need for sustainable practices in tourism, driven by increasing awareness of sustainability. By adopting CE strategies, businesses can achieve significant cost savings through resource optimization while simultaneously fostering socio-economic development in the destinations they operate in. The study illustrates how implementing CE principles in the tourism sector can lead to efficient waste management, enhanced environmental performance, and economic opportunities for businesses. Furthermore, it discusses the positive impacts on local communities, including job creation, improved infrastructure, and preservation of cultural heritage. The review also identifies key CE indicators that measure sustainability outcomes, such as resource recovery rates and community engagement levels utilizing frameworks such as STEEPLE and Porter’s Generic Strategies.
Implementation of innovations and Industry 4.0 features
The article highlights the critical importance of innovation for maintaining competitiveness in the global economy. The research aim is to analyze the implementation of innovations and the features of Industry 4.0. To enhance investments in research and development (R&D) and effectively apply scientific discoveries to improve products, services, and processes, many countries are implementing policies and programs designed to foster innovation. Innovation and entrepreneurship play a pivotal role in driving economic development. In today’s economy, innovation is a key determinant of business success. It fuels economic growth, generates new and better employment opportunities, and fosters social mobility. Amid significant technological and social transformations, a nation’s economic competitiveness increasingly depends on the ability of businesses to develop and successfully commercialize innovative solutions. Case studies demonstrate the global proliferation of Industry 4.0, marking a profound shift in industrial practices. The ongoing wave of globalization is expected to spur industrial revolutions across all nations. To remain competitive, businesses must quickly adapt to and leverage emerging technologies to optimize their operations. Companies that do so effectively are better positioned to secure a clear and sustainable future in the evolving global market. The results of the study showed that the relationship between Industry 4.0 and innovation is mutually reinforcing.
Transition towards innovative energy transport: the role of communication and marketing in public transport – the case of Vilnius
The article examines innovative energy transport, communication and marketing in the case of public transport. The case of Vilnius city public transport is examined in the implementation of the sustainable mobility action plan. The envisaged opportunity and communication for Vilnius to become a climate-neutral city, to improve public transport accessibility and car parking infrastructure are discussed. The article examines how Vilnius public transport will strive for innovation and create a sustainable environment for future generations. The city of Vilnius plans to expand environmentally friendly means of transport, promote the development of a circular economy, and improve air quality by reducing gas emissions.
Acceptance of and attitude towards “Slow Fashion”. an explorative study based on an evaluation among different generations in Germany
The market for slow and sustainable fashion is growing; especially in Europe it is a very promising topic. Nevertheless, the actual purchase decision for “Slow Fashion” can be influenced by various factors and as a result on the acceptance of and attitude towards “Slow Fashion”. In many cases, a positive attitude towards sustainability is not reflected in the actual purchase. This explorative study tries to shed light on differences in acceptance and attitudes among different generations’ consumers. Findings of a survey in Germany are presented, which confirm the existence of differences in motivations and drivers related to purchase decisions. To increase market shares of “Slow Fashion” it is important to better understand these underlying motives of behaviour.
A conceptual framework for improving human-AI collaboration in customer service within South Africa’s financial sector
AI-driven tools such as chatbots, virtual assistants, and automated response systems have been widely adopted in South Africa’s financial services sector. These technologies offer advantages such as handling routine inquiries, providing financial guidance, and streamlining service delivery. This study investigates the factors influencing human- AI collaboration in customer service within South Africa’s financial sector. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify key factors influencing human-AI collaboration. This resulted in a conceptual framework with six guiding principles linked to collaboration guidelines. The framework highlights the ongoing, iterative interplay between factors influencing human-AI collaboration, principles, and guidelines, where principles initiate corrective actions, guidelines implement them, and the resulting changes shape new collaboration factors, sustaining the cycle.
Digital divide and inclusive labor productivity growth in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa is more likely to overcome existing inequalities seen through labour productivity, financial inclusion, and economic participation, particularly among rural communities, women, and the economically disadvantaged. Although technology is evolving quickly, factors such as infrastructure gaps, high costs, and female disempowerment remain hindrances to inclusive growth in the area. This research will analyse these challenges, using a combination of quantitative and qualitative data, comparing World Bank and The International Telecommunication Union datasets of internet penetration and mobile money take-up and frameworks of productivity in 34 countries with targeted surveys of 1,000 households and businesses in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. The range investigated comprise of user populations of individuals, households, and businesses from Sub-Saharan Africa, especially those that show notable differences between digital accesses in order to encompass a representative sample of the entire region of study. Results show that 84% of the population is within 3G reach. Yet less than 22% of the population can afford to use mobile internet, for instance, 10.5% of monthly income per 1GB of data or mobile devices (25% of GDP per capita). Digital gender gaps still exist, with 34–37% of women less likely to be digital enablers. Yet initiatives such as M-PESA in Kenya show that focused approaches can fill the void, driving a 37.5 million user increase in financial inclusion. Urgent policy action must address affordability, infrastructure, and digital literacy in order to realize productivity gains and equitable economic participation to help close the digital divide and foster inclusive, tech-enabled economic development throughout the region, thereby concluding the study.
The development needs of business competencies of social entrepreneurs: a case study of Latvia
The competitiveness, growth and sustainability of social enterprises are affected by a number of factors, including the competencies of individuals running the business. The present research aim was to identify the business knowledge, skills and competencies required by social enterprise managers across various regions of Latvia in the realities of their economic activity. To achieve the research objectives, a representative survey of social enterprises was used. The results of the study revealed that there were: (1) statistically significant differences in the competency needs of social enterprises, but the need for knowledge and the demand for skills were equally different; (2) statistically significant differences in the need for knowledge about marketing activities and the need for competencies on how to inform the public about social enterprise products; (3) as the level of formal education of business managers increased, the need for competencies on how to inform the public about social enterprise products also increased, reaching statistical significance. The research can be useful in planning the development of social entrepreneurs, as well as it broadens the public’s understanding of the needs of sustainable social entrepreneurship.
Applying technology acceptance models in the digital transformation of educational institutions: a systematic review
The implementation of digital transformations in the management of educational organizations is a complex process that requires not only structured solutions but also consistent realization. Technology adoption models, such as TPACK, TAM, and UTAUT, help structure and analyze the factors that drive the adoption of digital technologies in educational institutions. This article aims to analyze the principles of operation of technology adoption models (TAM, UTAUT, and TPACK) and their application in educational organizations undergoing digital transformation. The study examines how these models help understand technology adoption in the education sector, highlighting the key challenges and opportunities revealed in previous scientific research. The study applies a systematic analysis of scientific sources using the PRISMA method. The research results showed the use of TAM and UTAUT models in digital transformations of educational institutions does not cover the pedagogical aspect. Therefore, the TPACK model effectively expands the findings and provides a broader framework for identifying the reasons behind the slow adoption of digital transformations in educational institutions. The analysis presented in the article can be useful for educational institutions seeking to implement digital transformations more efficiently and rapidly within their organizations.
Systematic literature review of motivations, research methods, and company characteristics in annual and sustainability reporting
The annual and sustainability reporting increased significantly across most regions, but the motivations remain unclear. The systematic literature review (SLR) is based on 77 Web of Science (WOS) publications. By evaluating publications according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the research results in 12 final publications that answer the questions of motives for reporting, research methods, and company characteristics. Nevertheless, this article identifies that motives for yearly disclosures are primarily external. The study is limited by focusing solely on an SLR and WOS. This could be solved by exploring other databases, academic fields, Institutional and Stakeholder theories, and mixed methods.
Social innovations in social services: concept and main features
The overwhelming goal of the research was to provide a knowledge basis for the process of the selection of social innovation ideas within the open call organized by the Society Integration Foundation of the Republic of Latvia. This competition is one of the actions within the ESF+ financed project “Support for new approaches in the provision of community-based social services”. The tasks involved the development of the comprehensive definition and indicators of social innovation for the field of Social Services, as well as evaluation criteria for Social Innovation ideas and projects, and practical methodology for criteria application. The goal of the current research was to build a common understanding of social innovations and their features. Data was processed by means of content analysis with the application of Voyant Tool, and analysis of the experts’ answers. The main identified features of social innovation in the field of social services are initial stimulus, novelty, need for collaboration, effectiveness, sustainability, social value, and scalability and repeatability.
Internet of things technologies: the case of the logistics sector
Technological change and rapid transformation are very significant in various business areas. The logistics sector is no exception; one of the fastest-growing technologies in this area is integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) into certain logistics activity areas. The Internet of Things (IoT) promotes the transformation of processes and leads to greater operational efficiency, security, and, at the same time, sustainability. The fact that the Internet of Things (IoT), as a technology and its applicability, is essential in logistics is emphasised by the research conducted and the presentation of their results in scientific literature and practical discussions. This article presents what Internet of Things (IoT) solutions are integrated into logistics. A systematic literature and secondary data analysis will be applied to achieve this goal. The results obtained within the conducted research and analysis limits will imply further possible research directions.
The role of AI-powered chatbots in enhancing customer experience: systematic literature review
The engagement of chatbots in customer experience management is increasing as a disruptive innovation in the digital ecosystem. The goal of the research conducted by the authors was to explore the application of AI chatbots to be used in e-commerce to improve customer satisfaction levels. The systematic literature review and data-analysis presented in the paper involve the peer-reviewed literature published in the last three years. This study includes peerreviewed research articles on AI-powered chatbots and customer experience published between 2021 and 2024. After searching Scopus and PubMed and applying exclusion criteria, five relevant full-text articles from the last three years were selected. Scopus and PubMed databases were used for record searching; finally, twenty-one study-relevant articles were chosen for the research. After applying some exclusion criteria, which were duplicates, other than the English language, non-AI-powered chatbots, and not accessed for full-text articles, five peer-reviewed articles were finally used for analysis. The PRISMA approach was utilized to synthesize the findings. Cross-study compatibility, validity, and reliability of sources were validated and assessed to derive more accurate data-analysis results. Consequent themes include the impact of anthropomorphism on perceived personalization qualities, behavioral trust and intention, and the part played by chatbots in reducing perceived risks in electronic commerce. The results of the research support chatbots as stewards of business and customer service operations to achieve global sustainability and citizenship objectives, including inclusive interactions for all users.
Scaling sustainability: the economic and environmental impact of circular economy clusters
This study examines established circular economy clusters in Europe, focusing on their structure, strategies, and impact. The principal objectives are to categorize clusters based on circular models, assess their economic and environmental contributions, and identify key success factors. The investigation covers industrial symbiosis, biobased production, and policy-led frameworks. The study employs a comparative analysis of key performance indicators (KPIs) and policy frameworks. The findings indicate that collaboration, innovation, and government support are critical factors in driving cluster success while regulatory and market barriers remain challenges. The conclusion emphasizes the need for policy incentives, cross-sector cooperation, and investment in circular innovation to accelerate sustainability.
Inclusivity of employees with special needs and value creation in organizational settings
The organisational structure and business strategies of for-profit organisations are built on workforce efficiency, speed, and quality of operations that are largely globally wished to be aligned with sustainability principles. The concept of inclusivity gains more attention in organisational strategies and goals; however, its practical application is nuanced and shaded by different challenges, such as employers’ silent ignorance and doubts about the quality of work and efficiency of tasks of persons with special needs. Businesses care about their good reputation, fast processes, and results, keeping non-financial goals on the second hand, if keeping them at all. The inclusive business, the challenges of employing individuals with special needs, and the value they bring to organisations are integral parts of today’s world concerns, where equal opportunities are the value of an organisation and society. This article aims to explore valuecreation elements and their interdependencies in organisational settings. An explorative study of organisational value creation practices in special needs employees’ inclusive organisational research results in confronting the stereotypes by providing subtle evidence and observational insights that employees with special needs, being integrated into the labour market, perform their tasks effectively, are loyal, productive, and responsible, confirming that when socially accepted and physically welcomed by organisational communities they can successfully contribute to creating significant value for businesses, as well as reducing the social burden and costs for society and the country.
Strategic use of artificial intelligence in enterprise supply chain management
This study analyzed the strategic use of artificial intelligence (AI) in supply chain management to optimize efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making. A comprehensive review of academic literature and relevant business case studies was conducted to assess the impact of AI on logistics process optimization, decision-making, and operational efficiency within the supply chain. Analytical, inductive, and deductive methods were applied to critically break down and examine the collected information. The results revealed that the implementation of AI brings significant benefits. For example, Lithuanian trade company Maxima has successfully reduced inventory levels by 20% and improved sales forecast accuracy by 15% through AI-driven demand prediction systems. Similarly, another company Eugesta has experienced a 30% reduction in inventory levels and a 20% improvement in sales forecast accuracy due to AI algorithms. Building on this research, the authors propose a model that integrates AI-driven supply chain optimization strategies, outlining key factors for enhancing business efficiency, predictive accuracy, and decision-making. The proposed model aims to serve as a structured framework for companies looking to leverage AI for sustainable competitive advantage in supply chain management.
Analyzing consumer behavior and interventions to reduce fashion waste based on the comprehensive action determine model
This study investigates consumer behaviour regarding fashion products, specifically within the context of frugal living, to promote environmental sustainability and substantially reduce fashion waste. Using the Comprehensive Action Decision Making Model (CADM) based on Inference Theory, the research employs rigorous statistical analyses, including repeated measures ANOVA, the Scheffé test, and Pearson correlation. We systematically assessed three intervention strategies: basic environmental knowledge, cost considerations, and benchmarking information. The results indicated that the mean scores for the first intervention were statistically similar to those of the second intervention. However, the difference between the second and the third intervention was significantly notable, with the third strategy yielding a lower mean score. Moreover, the repeated measures ANOVA revealed substantial differences among the three interventions, strongly supporting our hypothesis with relevant p-values. Ultimately, this study convincingly demonstrated that the third intervention, which focused on benchmarking information, was the most effective in influencing consumers’ behaviour towards sustainable fashion choices. This also highlights the nudge strategy of fashion waste reduction promotion is significant for the Indonesia people.
Impact of IOT on B2B digital marketing: investigating the mediating role of operational effectiveness
The emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) has driven a significant shift in business processes, particularly in online marketing. This study examines the impact of IoT implementation on marketing performance, emphasizing the mediating role of operational effectiveness in a business-to-business (B2B) context. Using data from a German company, the research employs regression analyses based on the Baron and Kenny framework to assess direct and mediated relationships. The findings reveal that IoT has a significant positive effect on marketing performance. While operational effectiveness alone does not significantly predict IoT’s impact, it has a strong direct influence on marketing outcomes. The study confirms a partial mediation effect, with a small yet statistically significant indirect pathway. These results highlight the important role of operational effectiveness in maximizing the benefits of IoT for marketing success. This research contributes to the limited literature on IoT’s mediating variables in marketing and offers actionable insights for optimizing IoT-driven B2B marketing strategies.
New Trends in Contemporary Economics, Business and Management. Selected Proceedings of the 15th International Scientific Conference “Business and Management 2025”
The Proceedings contain the selected papers from five sections: Advanced Economic Development, Green Economy and Sustainable Development, Business Technologies and Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Finance and Investment: New Challenges and Opportunities, New Perspectives on Management and Resilience of Business Organisations.