Table A1 Within case analysis Dimension...

Table A1

Within case analysis

Dimension	Focal company (brand owner)	First-tier supplier (Tannery)	Second-tier supplier (Hide collector)	Third-tier supplier (slaughterhouse)	Fourth-tier supplier (farmer)
Country	Italy	Italy	Italy	Italy	Spain
Company size	Large Enterprise	Large Enterprise	Large Enterprise	Large Enterprise	SME
Core activities	Product design, brand management, retail coordination	Leather processing and transformation	Collection and classification of hides	Animal processing and hide extraction	Animal breeding
Strategic role in traceability	System orchestrator; defines architecture and standards	Transformation node linking raw materials to manufacturing	Data aggregation node	Primary data generation node	Origin data provider
Traceability practices	Item-level tracking; integration of upstream data; product authentication	Batch tracking of hides and processing stages	Batch identification and origin tracking	Identification of animals and hides	Initial animal identification
Traceability level	Item-level (downstream)	Batch-level	Batch-level	Batch-level	Batch-level (origin)
Data generated	Product ID, supplier data, sustainability data, production data	Batch ID, transformation data, quality data	Origin data, classification data	Animal ID, processing data	Animal ID, farm data
Data granularity	High (item-level)	Medium (batch-level)	Medium	Medium	Low–medium
Identification mechanisms	RFID tags, product codes	Batch codes	Batch codes	Animal IDs, batch codes	Ear tags, manual records
Digital systems/ICT tools	RFID system, ERP, traceability platform	ERP, traceability software	Basic digital systems	Local IS and databases	Limited digitalisation
Information integration mechanisms	Integration of multi-tier data through shared identifiers, platform coordination, and validation rules	Linking input/output batches through transformation records and shared identifiers	Aggregation and transmission of supplier-origin data across tiers	Generation of primary traceability records connected to downstream batch identifiers	Limited integration; reliance on upstream actors for digital information transfer
Platform interaction	Central node; collects and distributes data	Uploads and retrieves data	Transfers data upstream	Transfers data to collectors	Indirect participation
Data lineage continuity	Maintains item-level continuity between final products and upstream batches	Preserves informational continuity during aggregation/disaggregation processes	Maintains continuity between sourcing and classification stages	Preserves linkage between animal origin and hide extraction	Provides origin-level traceability information
Data governance and control	Defines standards, validates data, controls quality	Ensures data accuracy and compliance	Ensures origin data reliability	Ensures primary data accuracy	Limited governance
Governance tensions/constraints	Need to coordinate heterogeneous actors with different digital capabilities and incentives	Pressure to maintain data consistency across transformations	Dependence on upstream data reliability	Operational burden associated with traceability requirements	Limited bargaining power and digital maturity
Information visibility	Full visibility across tiers and to consumers	Visibility upstream/downstream	Limited visibility	Limited visibility	Very limited visibility
Coordination mechanisms	Defines protocols; orchestrates network	Coordinates with suppliers and manufacturer	Connects upstream and downstream	Compliance-based coordination	Minimal coordination
Validation mechanisms	Cross-checking procedures, standardised protocols, and platform validation rules	Verification of transformation and quality records	Validation of origin and supplier data	Validation of primary animal and batch records	Basic validation through upstream actors
Key challenges	Integration complexity; data consistency	Managing transformation data	Data consistency from multiple sources	Data accuracy at source	Low digital capability
Contribution to system	Enables system-wide integration and visibility	Connects raw materials to production	Ensures traceability continuity	Generates primary traceability data	Provides origin data

Dimension	Focal company (brand owner)	First-tier supplier (Tannery)	Second-tier supplier (Hide collector)	Third-tier supplier (slaughterhouse)	Fourth-tier supplier (farmer)
Country	Italy	Italy	Italy	Italy	Spain
Company size	Large Enterprise	Large Enterprise	Large Enterprise	Large Enterprise	SME
Core activities	Product design, brand management, retail coordination	Leather processing and transformation	Collection and classification of hides	Animal processing and hide extraction	Animal breeding
Strategic role in traceability	System orchestrator; defines architecture and standards	Transformation node linking raw materials to manufacturing	Data aggregation node	Primary data generation node	Origin data provider
Traceability practices	Item-level tracking; integration of upstream data; product authentication	Batch tracking of hides and processing stages	Batch identification and origin tracking	Identification of animals and hides	Initial animal identification
Traceability level	Item-level (downstream)	Batch-level	Batch-level	Batch-level	Batch-level (origin)
Data generated	Product ID, supplier data, sustainability data, production data	Batch ID, transformation data, quality data	Origin data, classification data	Animal ID, processing data	Animal ID, farm data
Data granularity	High (item-level)	Medium (batch-level)	Medium	Medium	Low–medium
Identification mechanisms	RFID tags, product codes	Batch codes	Batch codes	Animal IDs, batch codes	Ear tags, manual records
Digital systems/ICT tools	RFID system, ERP, traceability platform	ERP, traceability software	Basic digital systems	Local IS and databases	Limited digitalisation
Information integration mechanisms	Integration of multi-tier data through shared identifiers, platform coordination, and validation rules	Linking input/output batches through transformation records and shared identifiers	Aggregation and transmission of supplier-origin data across tiers	Generation of primary traceability records connected to downstream batch identifiers	Limited integration; reliance on upstream actors for digital information transfer
Platform interaction	Central node; collects and distributes data	Uploads and retrieves data	Transfers data upstream	Transfers data to collectors	Indirect participation
Data lineage continuity	Maintains item-level continuity between final products and upstream batches	Preserves informational continuity during aggregation/disaggregation processes	Maintains continuity between sourcing and classification stages	Preserves linkage between animal origin and hide extraction	Provides origin-level traceability information
Data governance and control	Defines standards, validates data, controls quality	Ensures data accuracy and compliance	Ensures origin data reliability	Ensures primary data accuracy	Limited governance
Governance tensions/constraints	Need to coordinate heterogeneous actors with different digital capabilities and incentives	Pressure to maintain data consistency across transformations	Dependence on upstream data reliability	Operational burden associated with traceability requirements	Limited bargaining power and digital maturity
Information visibility	Full visibility across tiers and to consumers	Visibility upstream/downstream	Limited visibility	Limited visibility	Very limited visibility
Coordination mechanisms	Defines protocols; orchestrates network	Coordinates with suppliers and manufacturer	Connects upstream and downstream	Compliance-based coordination	Minimal coordination
Validation mechanisms	Cross-checking procedures, standardised protocols, and platform validation rules	Verification of transformation and quality records	Validation of origin and supplier data	Validation of primary animal and batch records	Basic validation through upstream actors
Key challenges	Integration complexity; data consistency	Managing transformation data	Data consistency from multiple sources	Data accuracy at source	Low digital capability
Contribution to system	Enables system-wide integration and visibility	Connects raw materials to production	Ensures traceability continuity	Generates primary traceability data	Provides origin data

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