Metaverse and GenAI: A Dual-Tech Framework for Future-Ready Supply Chain Resilience

Researchers from Rabat Business School and the University of Picardie Jules Verne propose integrating the Metaverse and Generative AI to enhance supply chain resilience. Their framework enables virtual simulations and AI-driven decision-making to build agile, adaptive, and disruption-ready supply networks.

As the modern supply chain ecosystem faces escalating risks from global crises, disruptions, and digital complexity, researchers from Rabat Business School at the International University of Rabat, Morocco, and the University of Picardie Jules Verne in France have introduced a transformative approach. In their paper published in Procedia Computer Science, Azz-eddine Meafa, Abla Chaouni Benabdellah, and Kamar Zekhnini propose the synergistic integration of the Metaverse and Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) as a novel framework to boost supply chain resilience (SCR). Their study, presented at the 6th International Conference on Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing, emphasizes how these emerging technologies can help organizations not only survive but thrive amid volatility.

Rethinking Resilience in the Digital Age

With global supply chains increasingly exposed to disruptions, from pandemics and geopolitical instability to climate crises and cyber threats , resilience has become more than just a buzzword. It's a strategic imperative. Traditional contingency plans are no longer sufficient. The authors argue that businesses must shift from reactive approaches to adaptive, digitally enabled strategies.

To this end, the researchers conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) of 50 academic sources focused on supply chain management, the Metaverse, and AI technologies. Their findings suggest that combining the immersive, experimental potential of the Metaverse with the analytical and cognitive power of GenAI offers a unique opportunity to redefine SCR. This integration can enable businesses to proactively simulate disruptions, test strategic responses, and build adaptive, self-reconfiguring supply networks.

Simulating Real-World Crises in Virtual Worlds

At the core of this framework lies the Metaverse , a convergence of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), digital twins (DT), and blockchain technologies. These tools create immersive, interactive, and data-driven virtual environments where businesses can mirror their physical supply chains.

By creating digital twins of manufacturing plants, warehouses, or transportation networks, managers can test various disruption scenarios , from natural disasters to supplier failures , without real-world consequences. AR and VR further enhance this environment by enabling immersive training sessions and remote collaboration. Blockchain, meanwhile, ensures data integrity and transparency across the virtual ecosystem, allowing stakeholders to make informed decisions based on secure, real-time information.

The Metaverse acts as a strategic sandbox where supply chains can be stress-tested, weak points identified, and recovery strategies simulated well before any real disruption occurs.

AI-Powered Intelligence: From Data to Decisions

Generative AI, on the other hand, brings powerful computational intelligence to the table. Leveraging technologies such as machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), deep learning (DL), and big data analytics, GenAI enables advanced decision-making, scenario generation, and risk forecasting.

Its language and cognitive capabilities allow it to interpret complex data, simulate human-like reasoning, and generate actionable recommendations. For instance, GenAI can help forecast demand shifts, propose alternative sourcing strategies, or recommend inventory restructuring during a crisis. It can also assist in automating communication across the supply chain, speeding up response times in emergencies.

When integrated with the Metaverse, GenAI enhances the decision-making process by analyzing virtual simulation outcomes and proposing optimized strategies. This creates a feedback loop where strategy and execution are continuously refined through AI insights and virtual testing.

Building a Resilient Framework: Agility, Adaptability, Reconfigurability

The framework presented by the authors highlights four foundational pillars for resilient supply chains: agility, adaptability, restructuration, and reconfigurability. These elements are enabled by the core capabilities of the Metaverse and GenAI:

• Agility: The ability to respond quickly to changes or disruptions.

• Adaptability: The capability to evolve operations based on new information.

• Restructuration: The reorganization of processes or networks to mitigate risks.

• Reconfigurability: The flexibility to modify systems or resources as needed.

Using these principles, businesses can digitally simulate various future scenarios, assess their impact, and refine their strategies in advance. This allows for a more proactive and robust approach to managing uncertainty and complexity in the supply chain.

Future Directions: From Theory to Application

While the research lays a comprehensive theoretical foundation, it also reveals a gap in real-world implementation. Most current studies focus on either Metaverse or GenAI in isolation. The combined application of these technologies , especially in live supply chain operations , remains largely unexplored.

The authors recommend future research in several areas, including human-AI collaboration, cybersecurity in virtual environments, and the transformation of supply chains into dynamically reconfigurable systems. They also highlight the potential for real-time AI-assisted simulations in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics, where high-stakes decision-making and adaptability are essential.

Ultimately, the study urges businesses and researchers to explore how this digital pairing can not only prepare supply chains for tomorrow’s uncertainties but also turn disruption into a competitive advantage.

The convergence of the Metaverse and Generative AI marks a paradigm shift in how businesses approach supply chain resilience. It moves the focus from reactive recovery to intelligent, data-driven foresight. By enabling immersive simulations and AI-generated insights, this dual-technology framework empowers supply chain leaders to build systems that are not only prepared for disruption but are capable of thriving in it. As global challenges become more complex and interconnected, such digitally enhanced resilience could be the cornerstone of sustainable, future-proof supply networks.