Enabling Flexible, Resilient, and Sustainable Supply Chains through Metaverse Technologies

Abstract Metaverse technologies, specifically digital twins (DT) and blockchain, are increasingly influencing the evolution of supply chain management (SCM). This study explores how these technologies support adaptability, flexibility, and resilience in complex environments. Using a mixed-method approach incorporating BERTopic modeling, the research identifies four thematic areas: real-time operational optimization via DTs; immersive workforce training through AR/VR; transparency improvements via blockchain; and Industry 5.0 technological trends. The result indicated the DTs in developing flexible, adaptive supply chains by facilitating predictive analytics, dynamic scenario planning, and stakeholder coordination. Integrated with machine learning and blockchain, DTs help optimize responsiveness, collaboration, and reconfiguration strategies, core principles of flexible systems management. The study further applies the antecedents–decisions–outcomes (ADO) framework to propose an outline for further research avenues and practice, grounded in three key questions focusing on how metaverse technologies enhance flexibility, support collaboration, and advance the sustainability–resilience nexus. The analysis also identifies governance, scalability, and ethical implementation as persistent challenges. Methodologically, the work demonstrates how topic modeling can support theory development in digitally transformed organizational systems. Expected outcomes include greater operational agility, improved sustainability alignment, and enhanced trust across supply chain networks. These insights contribute to ongoing efforts to build digitally enabled, ethically governed, and dynamically flexible supply chains aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) such as SDG 8 (work), SDG 9 (innovation), SDG 12 (consumption), SDG 13 (climate), and SDG 16 (governance).