Sustainable Automated Warehouse Material Handling Equipment Adoption Motives in Malaysia

Abstract

In the pursuit of sustainable industrial development, this conceptual piece aims to propose a conceptual model that explains the motivation behind warehouse automated material handling equipment (AWMHE) adoption in Malaysia. Through an extensive review of extant literature and contextual synthesis, and the application of TOE framework as the underpinning concept, an AWMHE conceptual model was developed. Five motives behind AWMHE adoption were identified namely perceived trustworthiness, perceived benefits, perceived cost, external pressure, and management support. This conceptual chapter could serve as a platform for future research, particularly in the warehouse management discipline. Likewise, this model could potentially provide valuable insights to warehouse providers in Malaysia on the need to adopt AWMHE operation. Currently, there are limited studies on the adoption of AWMHE in Malaysia using the TOE framework. Therefore, the current study could contribute to the existing warehouse AWMHE body of knowledge and serves as valuable information to both scholars and practitioners.