scholarly journals Characteristics of Logistics Outsourcing in Bulgaria: The Perspectives of the Logistics Service Providers and their Customers

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miroslava Rakovska
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Relationship Management ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Logistics Outsourcing ◽  
Team Meetings ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Logistics Service Providers

AbstractThe increased demand and supply of logistics services bring together the logistics service providers (LSPs) and the companies that outsource logistics activities. LSPs stand in between those companies and their customers, thus playing an essential role for supply chain integration. If the two parties have different viewpoints of the processes in the supply chain, the fulfillment of the goal to satisfy the end customers may be hindered. The purpose of this article is two-fold: First, to investigate the characteristics of logistics outsourcing in Bulgaria from the perspectives of the logistics service providers and their customers, and more specifically, to compare their viewpoints concerning the motives for outsourcing, the methods and contents of communication and some relationship management aspects; Second, to assess the relations of the communication and relationship management aspects to customer satisfaction. This article is based on empirical data provided by 138 manufacturing and trading companies and 136 LSPs and collected through two structured questionnaires designed to address the researched issues. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the independent samples t-test. The research found that the service related reasons for logistics outsourcing are prevailing and that LSPs overestimate, compared to manufacturing and trading companies, motives related to service, organizational capabilities and relationships, while more manufacturing and trading companies concern as important the availability of logistics assets and the provision of value-added services. The research also found that both the LSPs and their customers consider that the extent of sharing of knowledge and information essential for material flow integration is very low and that the usage of team meetings and joint teams is quite rare. Also, customers do not view their relationships with the LSPs as so collaborative as viewed by the LSPs. Furthermore, the research proved the existence of positive relationships between customer satisfaction and communication through team meetings and joint teams, knowledge sharing concerning material flow management and relationship management issues such as trust, mutual problem solving, understanding the logistics strategy of the other party and respecting its financial interests. The research findings may help fill in some of the gaps between LSPs and their customers. They point the need for LSPs to include in their service offerings more value-added services and to invest in assets that provide reliable and flexible services for their customers. The research also highlights the importance of knowledge sharing and trust building and reveals great potential for effective trust-based alliances between LSPs and their customers that could help them extract more competitive benefits from their relationships.

The relationship between technology and logistics third‐party providers

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Sauvage
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Third Party Logistics ◽  
Logistics Outsourcing ◽  
Time Compression ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
The Third ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
The Relationship

Our work discusses the results of a survey among French logistics service providers. In a highly competitive context characterized by “time compression”, technological effort becomes a key variable and a means of differentiation between third‐party logistics providers. The success of logistics outsourcing relationships is entrenched in the third‐party's technological ability to improve the supply chain reactivity.

The Roles of Logistics Service Providers and Supply Chain Integration in Global Supply Chain

2017 ◽  
pp. 265-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kijpokin Kasemsap
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Inventory Management ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Global Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Logistics Service Providers

This chapter explains the overview of logistics service providers (LSPs); LSPs' competitive advantage and logistics performance; LSPs, city logistics, and freight distribution in megacities; LSPs and cloud computing utilization; LSPs, green supply chain, and environmental sustainability; the prospect of supply chain integration (SCI); and the important aspects of SCI in global supply chain. LSPs can share responsibility for managing global supply chain, keeping stores properly stocked, and delivering the perfect order every time. Carriers and logistics intermediary perform more roles than what people think they do, because network connection and the ambition to remain competitive make them to take up value-added services. SCI is a network of businesses and contractors that provide raw materials, transportation, manufacturing, distribution, warehousing, and retailing services. Through SCI, operating flexibility and tight inventory management lead to a lower cost structure, which results in higher profit margins.

scholarly journals Modeling logistics service providers in a non-cooperative supply chain

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (13-14) ◽  
pp. 6340-6358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernesto D.R. Santibanez-Gonzalez ◽  
Ali Diabat
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Logistics Service Providers

scholarly journals Environmental alignment between logistics service providers and shippers – a supply chain perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 575-605
Author(s):  
Maria Huge-Brodin ◽  
Edward Sweeney ◽  
Pietro Evangelista
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Stakeholder Theory ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Sustainable Logistics ◽  
Logistics Service Providers

PurposeVarious suggested paths for greening logistics and supply chains often address the specific perspectives of single supply chain actors. Drawing on stakeholder theory, the purpose of this paper is to develop a deeper understanding of the alignment between logistics service providers (LSPs) and shippers in the context of adopting more environmentally sustainable logistics practices.Design/methodology/approachWith a case study approach, a dual perspective is taken in which both LSPs and shippers were researched. The cases comprise eight LSPs and six shipper companies in Sweden, Italy and Ireland. Information was first analysed in relation to levels of environmental awareness, customer requirements and provider offerings and critical success factors (CSFs) and inhibitors. In a second step, the findings were analysed using stakeholder theory.FindingsLSPs demonstrate higher ambition levels and more concrete offerings compared to shippers' requirements for green logistics services. Paradoxically, customers are an important CSF and also an inhibitor for both LSPs and shippers. Both LSPs and shippers perceive financial factors and senior management priorities as important CSFs. The application of stakeholder theory helps to illuminate the importance of the many secondary stakeholders vs that of one or a relatively small number of primary stakeholders.Originality/valueThe three-dimensional analysis of environmental alignment between LSPs and shippers reinforces existing knowledge and provides new insights. A novel use of stakeholder theory in a supply chain context underlines its usefulness in research of this kind.

4PL Intermediation

2017 ◽  
pp. 64-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nejib Fattam ◽  
Gilles Paché
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
Fourth Party Logistics ◽  
Major Criterion ◽  
Relief Operations

The 2000s have seen the increased development of a different type of logistics service providers known as fourth party logistics (4PL) service providers. Those providers are now very involved in the short-term “transient” logistics needed by large retailers to organize the supply chain for some of their promotional activities that only last few days, or NGO to organize efficient relief operations after a disaster. Hence, 4PL firms can be considered dynamic assemblers of logistical resources they capture from partners in order to satisfy clients. A major criterion required for a successful 4PL intermediation is trust, as key element of social capital, and this chapter discusses the importance of trust in the efficient operations of this transient or ad hoc relationship between the 4PL and the client.

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