Enabling collaborative logistics in rural contexts with digital technologies: a systematic literature review

Collaboration and digital technologies are critical enablers for improving logistics by enhancing coordination, optimising resource use, and increasing supply chain responsiveness. Although both areas have been widely studied, their intersection, especially in rural areas, remains underexplored. This paper presents a systematic literature review, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA protocol, to examine how digital technologies support collaborative logistics practices, with particular emphasis on rural contexts. Our study delivers a structured synthesis that connects collaboration mechanisms, digital enablers, and rural logistics characteristics, moving beyond fragmented treatments in prior reviews. A comprehensive search and rigorous screening of 73 studies revealed literature spanning three interconnected domains: collaborative logistics, digital technologies, and rural logistics. Based on this analysis, we identify three logistics modes that shape interactions between production firms and customers in rural areas: rural-to-rural, rural-to-urban, and urban-to-rural. The review findings are consolidated into an integrated framework that links collaboration practices with enabling technologies. The findings not only advance prior research but also support firms and logistics service providers in making better-informed collaboration and technology decisions. The paper concludes by outlining future research directions aimed at advancing knowledge of technology-driven collaboration in logistics systems, particularly in rural settings, where practical insights are still limited.