More articles from Volume 11, Issue 3, 2022
SMARTCHAIN - Towards Innovation-Driven and Smart Solutions in Short Food Supply Chains
Exploring regulatory obstacles to the development of short food supply chains: empirical evidence from selected european countries
Application of digital solutions to improve the operation of short food supply chains
Value propositions for improving the competitiveness of short food supply chains built on technological and non-technological innovations
Understanding social innovation in short food supply chains: an exploratory analysis
An online innovation platform to promote collaboration and sustainability in short food supply chains
ISEKI-Food Association,
Nederlands Bakkerij Centrum (NBC),
ISEKI-Food Association,
University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Published: 28.07.2022.
Volume 11, Issue 3 (2022)
pp. 232-247;
Abstract
A sustainable Short Food Supply Chain (SFSC) requires collaboration among all actors, which nowadays is facilitated by information and communication technologies (ICT). However, not all SFSC stakeholders network with others in this way, and it is not clear what will draw them to ICT interaction. A simple, user-friendly website, the SMARTCHAIN Innovation Platform, evolving since March 2019, may facilitate interaction and cooperation among SFSC stakeholders. This article presents the Platform's development and evaluates its efficacy and impact by analysing data from Google Analytics (GA) and other sources. Primary Platform features promote communication and information sharing: these are the 1) Innovation Hubs in 9 European countries, 2) Inventories including 150 SFSC innovations and 50 SFSC initiatives, 3) Resources databases of Publications and Weblinks, and 4) Training section. GA showed that visitors to the Platform increased slowly in the 16 months since its start, and the number of page views increased with the amount of time on the Platform. The most visited page of the Platform was the information-providing Innovation Inventory. Most Platform users were in partner countries of the SMARTCHAIN project, but not all Innovation Hubs had high numbers of users. Most users arrived at the Platform by direct link, but LinkedIn was the most important originating social network. Taken together, these data suggest growth potential for an easy-to-use website that provides useful and up-to-date information but little inclination for SFSC stakeholders to use an online Platform for communication.
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