Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify, screen, and prioritize the key drivers influencing the future of the sports products supply chain, with an emphasis on Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, and to propose practical strategies for their effective implementation.



Methodology: This applied study adopts a mixed-methods (quantitative–qualitative) approach. In the quantitative phase, 25 preliminary drivers were identified through a review of domestic and international scientific literature. Subsequently, the Fuzzy Delphi Method was employed to screen the drivers, and expert-based questionnaires were distributed to and collected from 15 experts. A defuzzified score greater than 0.7 was considered the acceptance threshold, resulting in the selection of eight key drivers. These eight drivers were then prioritized using the CoCoSo technique based on six evaluation criteria. In the qualitative phase, focus group interviews were conducted with seven experts across five main dimensions to develop practical and operational strategies.



Findings: The results of the Fuzzy Delphi analysis indicated that eight of the 25 preliminary drivers were identified as key drivers. According to the CoCoSo ranking results, the highest-priority drivers were “Internet of Things for tracking sports products and equipment,” “Blockchain for product transparency, authenticity, and traceability,” “predictive maintenance and failure prediction systems,” and “automated systems for scenario forecasting and planning.” The qualitative findings further revealed that the integration of smart technologies, development of digital infrastructure, and empowerment of human capital are the three fundamental dimensions for the successful implementation of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.

Conclusion: The synergistic combination of the Internet of Things, blockchain, big data analytics, and machine learning can lead to enhanced transparency, optimized resource allocation, reduced uncertainties, and improved supply chain resilience.