scholarly journals Logistics Business Transformation for Sustainability: Assessing the Role of the Lead Sustainability Service Provider (6PL)

Logistics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Gruchmann ◽  
Ani Melkonyan ◽  
Klaus Krumme
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Service Provider ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Supply Chain Collaboration ◽  
Sustainable Logistics ◽  
Focal Firm ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
Optimization And Simulation

Societal, economic and ecological prosperity will be highly affected in the next decades due to socio-demographic developments and climate change. The design of more sustainable logistics business types can address such challenges to build more resilient supply chains. Therefore, the discussion with regard to transformational potentials of logistics businesses provides valuable information to shape business strategies according to future sustainability requirements. Within the framework of this paper, a mixed-methods approach has been applied to explore and analyze drivers and barriers for sustainability transformations of logistics service providers (LSPs) and to evaluate related business strategies with optimization and simulation methods in a concrete regional context. So far, LSPs’ main obstacles are competitive pressure, focal firm orientation, and dependence on other supply chain members, while supply chain collaboration and integration, as well as the integration of sharing economy solutions and new digital technologies, have been identified as promising for sustainability transitions. Accordingly, this paper suggests a roadmap for the logistics sector while defining retention strategies such as growth, replication, mimicry, and mergence to meet future societal and environmental requirements. By doing so, this study contributes to theory by constructing the Lead Sustainability Service Provider (6PL) business model (arche)type and its role in societal transitions.

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.

scholarly journals Inter-Organizational Supply Chain Interaction for Sustainability: A Systematic Literature Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 5488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ülgen ◽  
Björklund ◽  
Simm ◽  
Forslund
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Social Dimension ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Focal Firm ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
Chain Interaction

Research on inter-organizational supply chain interaction (IOSCI) for sustainability can be described as fast-growing and fragmented. It is uncertain to what extent logistics and supply chain management (SCM) literature has been able to close research gaps regarding e.g., empirical scope and sustainability dimensions addressed. A systematic literature review (SLR) is carried out to synthesize the existing knowledge and ongoing trends, and to propose a research agenda. The trend analysis shows that the gap between the environmental and social dimension is increasing, that Asian studies grow nearly exponentially, and that the focal firm perspective gains more ground. The research agenda calls for participatory studies of multiple actors and for studies addressing, e.g., the invisible logistics service providers. This study provides an important complement to existing literature reviews on sustainable supply chain interaction, primarily by its focus on the development over time, the empirical scope, the focus on publications in logistics/SCM journals, and its narrow focus on the interaction among firms in supply chains.

scholarly journals How can logistics service providers foster supply chain collaboration in logistics triads? Insights from the Italian grocery industry

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Bruno Prataviera ◽  
Alessandro Creazza ◽  
Fabrizio Dallari ◽  
Marco Melacini
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Supply Chain Collaboration ◽  
Previous Theory ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Logistics Service Providers

Purpose Collaborative solutions are increasingly being proposed to generate value in supply chains. Concurrently, firms have progressively outsourced logistics operations to logistics service providers (LSPs). However, many questions remain unsolved regarding the role played by LSPs in supporting supply chain collaboration (SCC) in triadic rather than dyadic contexts. This study aims to explore the relational mechanisms that LSPs can leverage to foster value creation through collaboration, elaborating on an existing theory about SCC by focussing on logistics triads. Design/methodology/approach By leveraging the view of the network theory, a multiple case study approach was adopted. Seven cases having logistics triads as units of analysis were identified and analysed within the Italian grocery supply chain, allowing for empirical investigation with a middle-range approach to extend the previous theory. Findings LSPs are pivotal actors that can actively promote SCC. LSPs can exploit large volumes and asset availability to increase efficiency while improving logistics flexibility and developing regular and trustworthy relationships with the other triad members. Building upon their logistics capabilities and the relational mechanisms in place, LSPs can help manufacturers collaborate with retailers by improving mutual trust and communication, acting as trust builders or trust conductors within the triad. Originality/value The study explores the role of LSPs in logistics triads, extending the previous literature. It highlights that LSPs facilitate not only supply and demand integration but also relational integration between firms. Trust emerges as a fundamental building block for SCC, as LSPs can look beyond economic benefits to foster partnerships that empower the co-development of original collaborative solutions.

scholarly journals Developing a Sustainable Logistics Service Quality Scale for Logistics Service Providers in Egypt

Logistics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Ahmed Hussein Ali ◽  
Ani Melkonyan ◽  
Bernd Noche ◽  
Tim Gruchmann
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Sustainable Logistics ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
Sorting Technique ◽  
Sustainability Practices ◽  
Logistics Service Quality

The role of sustainability has made it a vital point to measure companies’ financial performances and sustainability practices along the overall supply chain. Logistics service providers (LSPs) are among the supply chain actors that need to consider sustainability practices to present a better sustainable service. Therefore, we studied LSPs in Egypt, as Egypt has set sustainability goals in the logistics sector to be achieved by 2030. This research proposes a new sustainable logistics service quality (SLSQ) scale through reviewing the literature on sustainable service quality (SSQ) and logistics service quality (LSQ). While additional semi-structured interviews were conducted with LSP companies in Egypt to formulate the SLSQ scale for this specific region, the Q-sorting technique was used to confirm SLSQ measurements. Hence, we present a scale to evaluate Egypt’s overall LSPs’ service quality. Our research thereby contributes to the theory by proposing a new framework that measures the SLSQ in LSP companies in emerging countries and to the practice by tying the framework to accompany Egyptian law. The results are discussed against previous literature and concluded by showing limitations and potential future research avenues.

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 The Active Customer in Logistics Services

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Joanna Alicja Dyczkowska
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Food Sector ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
Business Market ◽  
Logistics Services

<p>This article describes the notion of “customer activity” in logistics services as an interaction with providers. We reviewed concepts of customer activity in services offered by logistics service providers (LSPs) in the food sector. We then analysed customer activity in transport, storage and management of services. We used a direct diagnostic survey for comparative analysis of groups of customers. The roles of LSPs in the supply chain and within the framework of cooperation in the business-to-business market are presented. Basic customer activities were examined by studying the supply chain, within which LSPs adapted their processes to the activities of their customers. The research results present the degree of customer activity in supply chains.</p><p><strong>Theoretical background:</strong> Customer activity in logistics services is mainly understood as part of interaction with providers. This study goes beyond this view by focusing on the independent activity of the customer in solutions related to transport, storage and the management of logistics services.</p><p><strong>Purpose of the article:</strong> The purpose of the article was to review concepts of customer activity in services offered by LSPs in food-sector supply chains; customer activity was characterised and applied in exploratory research.</p><p><strong>Research methods:</strong> A literature review, comparison of groups of customers, and a direct diagnostic survey method were all used.</p><p><strong>Main findings:</strong> The perspective of customer activity predominating among customers allows LSPs to pursue different activities on behalf of different groups of customers. This article contributes to research on logistics services while focusing on the concept of customer activity.</p>

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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