GENESIS OF THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF MERCHANDISE INVENTORIES IN THE CONTEXT OF SYSTEMIC AND FUNCTIONAL APPROACHES
Abstract
The article explores the genesis of the conceptual framework of merchandise inventories, emphasizing their transformation from a traditional accounting object into a multidimensional strategic resource shaped by systemic and functional perspectives. The study demonstrates that merchandise inventories have evolved beyond their classical financial interpretation as part of current assets intended for sale, acquiring new characteristics associated with sustainable development, digital transformation, and the growing complexity of global supply chains. Contemporary challenges such as geopolitical instability, wartime disruptions in Ukraine, volatility of consumer demand, energy insecurity, and structural breaks in logistics highlight the need to reconceptualize inventories as elements of enterprise resilience, risk management, and long-term value creation. The research synthesizes interdisciplinary insights from accounting theory, logistics, sustainability studies, and strategic management, revealing a paradigm shift from static cost-based inventory frameworks toward dynamic, data-driven, transparent, and responsibility-oriented models. Particular attention is given to the integration of environmental and social indicators into inventory-related decisions, including ethical sourcing, reduction of waste and overstock, energy-efficient storage, and the social significance of maintaining essential goods during crises. The study also considers the impact of Industry 4.0 technologies digital twins, AI-based forecasting, computer vision, smart warehousing which significantly expand the functional role of inventories in ensuring operational continuity and supporting real-time analytical decision-making. Based on this systemic reinterpretation, the article proposes an enhanced authorial definition of “merchandise inventories” that reflects their economic, ecological, and social dimensions, as well as their contribution to enterprise adaptability, competitiveness, and sustainable reporting practices. The findings underline that inventories must be understood not only as tangible or intangible assets prepared for sale but also as strategic components of resilient supply chains, carriers of sustainability commitments, and indicators of organizational preparedness for post-war recovery and long-term development.
References
Becerra M., Mula J., Sanchis R. A systematic literature review of sustainable inventory models. Sustainability. 2022. Vol. 14 No 5, P. 613. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052613
Carpitella S., Izquierdo J. A Digital Twin Framework to Support the Implementation of Industry 4.0 and Circular Economy Paradigms: A Case Study in the Automotive Sector. Processes. 2025. Vol. 13 No 4, P. 131. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13041131
Holloway S. Inventory Management as a Key Driver of Sustainability in Supply Chains. SSRN. 2025. No 5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5135338
International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). International Accounting Standard 2 (IAS 2) “Inventories”. 2003. URL: https://www.ifrs.org/issued-standards/list-of-standards/ias-2-inventories/
Kotler P., Keller K. L. Marketing Management. 15th ed. Pearson Education, 2016. P. 132
Крещенко О. В. Управління товарними запасами торговельного підприємства за категорійним менеджментом : автореф. дис. … канд. екон. наук : 08.00.04. Донецьк, 2014. 23 с.
LeMay S. A., Helms M. M., Kimball B., McMahon D. Supply Chain Management: The Elusive Concept and Definition. The International Journal of Logistics Management. 2017. Vol. 28 No. 4, P. 425–453. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-10-2016-0232
Мельник Т. Ю. Товарознавство: підручник. Житомир: Житомирська політехніка, 2020. C. 364
Міністерство фінансів України. Положення (стандарт) бухгалтерського обліку 9 «Запаси». URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0751-99#Text
Munyaka J. B., Yadavalli V. S. S. Inventory management concepts and implementations: A systematic review. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering. 2022. Vol. 33 No.2 , P. 15–36.
Олініченко К. С. Управління товарними запасами підприємств роздрібної торгівлі : автореф. дис. … канд. екон. наук : 08.00.04. Харків, 2016. 23 с.
Olshanska M. V., Fal Y. Y. Improving the Definition of the Notion “Goods” for Accounting Purposes of Trade Enterprises. Scientific Bulletin of NASAA. 2019. No 1–2, C. 32–39.
Організація об’єднаних націй (ООН). Цілі сталого розвитку: Порядок денний до 2030 року. Нью-Йорк, 2015. URL: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Ромащенко О. С. Управління товарними запасами підприємств торгівлі : автореф. дис. … канд. екон. наук : 08.00.04. Харків, 2016. 22 с.
Villegas-Ch W., Maldonado Navarro A., Sanchez-Viteri S. Optimization of inventory management through computer vision and machine learning technologies. Results in Engineering. 2024. Vol. 24.
Voronko R. M., Grezental В. О. Товарні запаси як об’єкт обліку в роздрібній торгівлі. Науковий вісник НЛТУ України. 2012. Вип. 22.7. С. 164–168.
Becerra M., Mula J., Sanchis R. (2022) A systematic literature review of sustainable inventory models. Sustainability, Vol. 14, No. 5, P. 613. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052613
Carpitella S., Izquierdo J. (2025) A Digital Twin Framework to Support the Implementation of Industry 4.0 and Circular Economy Paradigms: A Case Study in the Automotive Sector. Processes, Vol. 13, No. 4, P. 131. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13041131
Holloway S. (2025) Inventory Management as a Key Driver of Sustainability in Supply Chains. SSRN. No 5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5135338
International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) (2003) International Accounting Standard 2 (IAS 2) “Inventories”. Available at: https://www.ifrs.org/issued-standards/list-of-standards/ias-2-inventories/
Kotler P., Keller K. L. (2016) Marketing Management. 15th ed. Pearson Education, P. 132.
Kreshchenko O. V. (2014) Upravlinnia tovarnymy zapasamy torhovelnoho pidpryiemstva za katehoriinym menedzhmentom: avtoreferat [Inventory management of a trade enterprise through category management: dissertation abstract]. Donetsk, 23 p. (in Ukrainian)
LeMay S. A., Helms M. M., Kimball B., McMahon D. (2017) Supply Chain Management: The Elusive Concept and Definition. The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. 28 No. 4, P. 425–1453. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-10-2016-0232
Melnyk T. Yu. (2020) Tovaroznavstvo: pidruchnyk [Commodity Science: textbook]. Zhytomyr: Zhytomyrska politekhnika, P. 364. (in Ukrainian)
Ministerstvo finansiv Ukrainy (1999) Polozhennia (standart) bukhhalterskoho obliku 9 “Zapasy” [National Accounting Standard 9 “Inventories”]. Available at: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0751-99#Text (in Ukrainian)
Munyaka J. B., Yadavalli V. S. S. (2022) Inventory management concepts and implementations: A systematic review. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, Vol. 33 No. 2, P. 15–36.
Olinichenko K. S. (2016) Upravlinnia tovarnymy zapasamy pidpryiemstv rozdribnoi torhivli: avtoreferat [Inventory management of retail enterprises: dissertation abstract]. Kharkiv, P. 23. (in Ukrainian)
Olshanska M. V., Fal Y. Y. (2019) Improving the Definition of the Notion “Goods” for Accounting Purposes of Trade Enterprises. Scientific Bulletin of NASAA, No. 1–2, P. 32–39.
Orhanizatsiia Obiednanykh Natsii (2015) Tsili staloho rozvytku: Poriadok dennyi do 2030 roku [Sustainable Development Goals: 2030 Agenda]. New York: UN. Available at: https://sdgs.un.org/goals (in Ukrainian)
Romashchenko O. S. (2016) Upravlinnia tovarnymy zapasamy pidpryiemstv torhivli: avtoreferat [Inventory management of trade enterprises: dissertation abstract]. Kharkiv, 22 p. (in Ukrainian)
Villegas-Ch W., Maldonado Navarro A., Sanchez-Viteri S. (2024) Optimization of inventory management through computer vision and machine learning technologies. Results in Engineering. Vol. 24.
Voronko R. M., Grezental V. O. (2012) Tovarni zapasy yak obiekt obliku v rozdribnii torhivli [Inventories as an object of accounting in retail trade]. Naukovyi visnyk NLTU Ukrainy, Vol. 22.7, P. 164–168. (in Ukrainian)
