EXPLORING INVENTORY DIGITALISATION AND PRODUCT DELIVERY IN SELECTED FOOD MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN ILORIN, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examines how inventory digitalisation affects product delivery in selected food manufacturing firms in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. One hundred and Eighty-one181 respondents were selected, with 141 completed questionnaire were analysed which make for a 77.9% response rate. Both descriptive and inferential statistics like regression and ANOVA were used for the study. Key findings show: ANOVA shows that inventory digitalisation improves product delivery (p = 0.000, F = 3.658). Employee digital tool training improves operational efficiency, with a mean response range of 3.93 to 4.54 and a relative importance index (RII) of 0.77 to 0.91. the study revealed that Inventory planning and inventory coordination contributed more to product delivery in the study area. The findings also revealed that inventory digitalisation improves both operational efficiency and product delivery in a positive way. Inventory training programs are crucial for implementation of digital tools. The study concludes that regular training exercise, better inventory planning, and IoT and virtual inventory systems are good for the deployment of inventory digitalisation.