Analyzing the Consequences of Intelligent Supply Chain Finance for Reducing Liquidity Risk and Improving Working Capital Efficiency
Keywords:
Intelligent supply chain finance, liquidity risk, working capital, predictive analytics, fintech, cash-flow managementAbstract
This study aimed to explain the consequences of intelligent supply chain finance for reducing liquidity risk and improving firms’ working capital efficiency from the perspective of finance, supply chain, and fintech experts. This qualitative study was conducted using a thematic analysis design. The participants were 20 finance managers, treasury managers, supply chain managers, corporate banking specialists, and fintech experts working in companies and financial institutions in Tehran, Iran. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Interviews continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. After transcription, the data were analyzed using NVivo software through open, axial, and selective coding. Credibility and trustworthiness were enhanced through member checking, peer review, audit trail documentation, and constant comparison of codes and themes. The analysis led to four main categories: “data-driven transparency and liquidity predictability,” “reconfiguration of credit and operational risk across the financing network,” “improvement of the cash conversion cycle and working capital efficiency,” and “requirements of governance, data integration, and organizational readiness.” The findings indicated that intelligent supply chain finance, through e-invoicing, predictive analytics, AI-based supplier scoring, smart contracts, and integration of financial and operational systems, improves cash-flow visibility, reduces information asymmetry, accelerates receivables collection, and supports more accurate short-term financing and payment decisions. Intelligent supply chain finance is not merely a technological transformation; rather, it is a strategic mechanism for integrated liquidity management, risk control, financial flexibility, and working capital optimization. However, the realization of its benefits depends on data quality, alignment between finance and supply chain functions, technological infrastructure, interorganizational trust, and effective data governance.
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