Traditional and extended supplier-selection criteria in industrial B2B markets : a systematic literature review of relational, digital and sustainability-related criteria

Abstract

Supplier selection in industrial business-to-business (B2B) markets has traditionally focused on cost, quality, delivery, technical capability, flexibility and service. While these criteria remain fundamental, recent research has expanded supplier evaluation to include relational, digital and sustainability-related criteria considerations. This study examines how these extended criteria complement traditional supplier-selection criteria and contribute to assessments of supplier suitability. A systematic literature review was conducted using 33 publications published between 2021 and 2026. The selected studies were analyzed through systematic data extraction and thematic synthesis, with evidence organized into four categories: traditional, relational and credibility-related, digital, and sustainability-related criteria. The reviewed literature suggests that relational criteria provide insights into behavioral reliability and cooperation potential, digital criteria support integration and information transparency, and sustainability-related criteria address environmental, social, ethical and continuity considerations. The synthesis further indicates that the relevance of these criteria depends on purchasing risk, technological complexity and strategic context. Based on the reviewed literature, this study develops a conceptual supplier-suitability framework that integrates operational and extended evaluation criteria within the supplier-selection process. The study provides a conceptual contribution to the understanding of supplier suitability and may offer a systematic basis for supplier evaluation in industrial B2B markets.