Logistics Services in the 21st Century

2010 ◽  
pp. 359-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Thiell ◽  
Sergio Hernandez
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Service Industry ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Service Program ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
Logistics Services ◽  
The Cross

Due the cross-functional character of logistics tasks and the cross-organizational structure of most logistics chains, the logistics service industry is strongly affected by business dynamics. Since the 1950s, this industry has experienced a variety of changes; While logistics was traditionally concerned with the fulfilment of functions like transportation and warehousing, modern logistics service offerings also encompass services like network design and carbon footprint assessment. But not just the scope of logistics services has changed. Additionally logistics business models developed from 1PL to 4PL, indicating a shift from the provision of execution tasks to tactical tasks and from fragmented logistics solutions to integrative logistics solutions for complete logistics chains. As a consequence, logistics service providers at the beginning of the 21st century have many options to configure their service offerings. But which options exist to comply with the requirements in a modern competition being fought supply chain versus supply chain rather than firm versus firm? After analyzing the dynamics in the logistics service industry and the importance of logistics for an effective and efficient supply chain management, this chapter will focus on options how logistics service providers can construct single logistics services (service architecture), their logistics service program (service program architecture) and their appearance on the market (service provider architecture) in order to fulfil their role within today’s supply chains and to improve supply chain performance.

Logistics service characteristics and supply chain priorities for freight management

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 236-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Alberto Durán Encalada ◽  
François Bernard Duhamel
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Chain Analysis ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
Logistics Services ◽  
The One ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Supply Chain Analysis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how the type of logistics services required by firms is related to the freight characteristics, and to the cost and other dimensions of the services in Mexico. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted an exploratory study using Anova analysis and correlations, on the basis of a sample of 266 freight movements in Mexico, in order to test two main hypotheses. Findings The authors found an association between some logistics services, according to their level of customization, with the freight characteristics, and a positive relation of those customized services with security and reliability, on the one hand, and a negative relation with cost of the services, on the other hand. Research limitations/implications Size of the sample and some subjective measures of logistics services performance. Practical implications For shipping companies to be aware of existing limitations of Mexican logistics service providers in relation to customizing their services and the attributes associated with these services. This knowledge will contribute to firms' better planning of their freight movements. Originality/value Authors extend the supply chain analysis considering logistics variables variables such as freight characteristics, logistics services requirements, and the firms’ priorities for contracting these services, such as cost and other attributes.

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

Logistics service providers’ engagement in disaster relief initiatives

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 269-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Cozzolino ◽  
Ewa Wankowicz ◽  
Enrico Massaroni
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Humanitarian Logistics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Disaster Relief Operations ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
Logistics Services ◽  
Relief Operations ◽  
Humanitarian Supply Chain

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the contribution of logistics service providers’ (LSPs) initiatives to disaster relief and how LSPs are engaged with humanitarian sector. In recent years, the importance of logistics services in disaster relief operations and the capacity of LSPs to improve humanitarian supply chain management have become an increasingly interesting topic for both professionals and academics. Design/methodology/approach This research follows a qualitative approach based on multiple case studies. Findings The current research, after considering the differences and similarities among collaboration, cooperation and coordination and underlining how crucial these mechanisms are in the humanitarian context, explains the contribution of LSPs to relief operations alongside humanitarians. Research limitations/implications There has been increased interest in humanitarian logistics on the part of international academic and professional communities. This study constitutes a first exploratory step in the research to build a platform for benchmarking analysis of logistics services that aims to ensure the effective implementation of social responsibility principles. Practical implications The managerial implications arising from the research offer a range of current responsible actions from which strategic and operative directions to contribute can be derived. Originality/value Humanitarian logistics represents a crucial field in logistics management. This paper addresses the innovative socially responsible initiatives undertaken by the main international LSPs in the area of humanitarian logistics.

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 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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