Integrating IoT and Blockchain for Real-Time Inventory Visibility and Traceability: A Bibliometric–Systematic Review

Background: The accelerated convergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Blockchain is reconfiguring logistics, yet knowledge regarding their operationalisation for real-time inventory management remains fragmented. Methods: A Bibliometric–Systematic Literature Review (B-SLR) was conducted on peer-reviewed sources from Scopus and Web of Science (2019–2025), utilising science mapping to visualise intellectual and conceptual structures. Results: The analysis reveals a steep rise in publications during 2024–2025, identifying traceability, smart contracts, and integrity mechanisms as central themes. The synthesis supports a layered theoretical model linking transparency (sensing) and trust (ledger validation) to efficiency and supply chain resilience in Industry 5.0. The review highlights unresolved issues, including interoperability and privacy-by-design, alongside emerging directions such as digital twins. Conclusions: While scholarship has expanded rapidly, it remains weighted toward adoption mapping, underscoring the need for empirical, context-aware models that explain socio-technical integration and its measurable impacts on logistics performance.