A Review of Discount Policies in Supplier Selection: Trends, Opportunities, and Challenges

With global supply chains becoming increasingly intricate due to factors like globalization, technological advancements, and unforeseen disruptions, supplier selection emerges as a pivotal aspect of sustainable supply chain management. This paper presents a systematic literature review focusing on the role of discount policies in supplier selection. Employing a detailed bibliometric analysis using the extensive Scopus database, this study meticulously examines the scholarly discourse on supplier selection strategies, particularly those influenced by discounting. In this analysis, we analyze 197 papers from 2002 to 2023 to identify and discuss key themes, influential research works, and the dominant methodological trends in supplier selection involving discount policies. Findings unveil the strategic significance of incorporating discount policies, emphasizing their impact on an organization’s cost structure, profitability, and supply chain efficiency. Moreover, this study illuminates the intricacies and challenges organizations face in implementing these policies while identifying unexplored avenues and potential opportunities for future research. By offering a holistic view of the impact of discount policies on supplier selection, this paper aims to be an indispensable resource for scholars, practitioners, and decision-makers in the evolving realm of supply chain management.