The role of big data analytics capabilities in greening e-procurement: A higher order PLS-SEM analysis

•E-procurement practices does not influence environmental performance in the UAE.•E-procurement practices in the UAE has a significant influence on big data analytics capability.•Big data analytics capability fully mediates the relationship between e-procurement and environmental performance. The emergence of big data technology and concepts has created the potential to transform and innovate the traditional e-procurement system into green e-procurement. Utilizing resource orchestration theory, this paper suggests that if organizations embrace and reorganize some of the resources and capabilities offered by big data within their e-procurement functions, it will help achieve improved environmental performance. Based on a sample of 216 procurement professionals in the United Arab Emirates, we empirically investigate the effects of big data analytics capabilities (BDAC) on e-procurement (EP) and environmental performance (ENP) using PLS-SEM analysis. This paper has determined that EP does not influence (ENP), but it has a significant influence on BDAC; and when BDAC was introduced as a mediator between EP and ENP, a significant and positive effect was found on ENP, indicating full mediation. Our findings offer a more advanced understanding of the impact of BDAC on e-procurement, thereby addressing the crucial questions of how and when BDAC can enhance environmental sustainability in procurement and supply chains.