Towards an increased understanding of learning: a case study of a collaborative relationship between a retailer and a logistics service provider

PurposeThis study aims to explain how learning occurs in collaborative retailer–logistics service provider (LSP) relationships. The research is guided by two research questions, addressing absorptive and desorptive capacities and the interaction between these capacities.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on a case study of a Swedish, collaborative retailer–LSP dyad. The empirical data are structured around five specific learning situations within the retailer–LSP dyad.FindingsThe findings provide an explanation for how learning occurs within a collaborative retailer–LSP relationship based on subprocesses of absorptive and desorptive capacities. The interaction between these processes is found to rely on two types of support: one-directional and bidirectional. The findings also indicate positive outcomes of learning, such as improved cost efficiencies in warehouse operations, better customer services and improved long-term strategic planning.Practical implicationsThis study shows how retailers and LSPs can learn from each other and together create an improved logistics system for end customers.Originality/valueThis research takes into account absorptive and desorptive capacities in a collaborative retailer–LSP relationship. This study enhances the understanding of inter-organisational learning processes in a retail logistics context.

A NEW LOGARITHM METHODOLOGY OF ADDITIVE WEIGHTS (LMAW) FOR MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION-MAKING: APPLICATION IN LOGISTICS

Logistics management has been playing a significant role in ensuring competitive growth of industries and nations. This study proposes a new Multi-Criteria Decision-making (MCDM) framework for evaluating operational efficiency of logistics service provider (LSP). We present a case study of comparative analysis of six leading LSPs in India using our proposed framework. We consider three operational metrics such as annual overhead expense (OE), annual fuel consumption (FC) and cost of delay (CoD, two qualitative indicators such as innovativeness (IN) which basically indicates process innovation and average customer rating (CR)and one outcome variable such as turnover (TO) as the criteria for comparative analysis. The result shows that the final ranking is a combined effect of all criteria. However, it is evident that IN largely influences the ranking. We carry out a comparative analysis of the results obtained from our proposed method with that derived by using existing established frameworks. We find that our method provides consistent results; it is more stable and does not suffer from rank reversal problem.

Selection of Logistics Service Provider for the E-Commerce Companies in Pakistan Based on Integrated GRA-TOPSIS Approach

Recently, the demand for third-party logistics providers has become extremely relevant and the key subject for businesses to enhance their service quality and minimize logistics costs. The key success factor for an e-commerce business is product delivery, and the third-party logistics service provider is responsible for that. Each 3PLP has its own business characteristics, meaning it is important to select the most suitable logistics provider for the e-commerce business. This study uses a combination of grey relational analysis (GRA) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method, assisting decision makers in choosing the best logistics service provider for their e-business. A case study of an e-commerce company based in Faisalabad, Pakistan, was selected to demonstrate the steps of the proposed methods. In this process, seven criteria of logistics suppliers were considered, and then the best alternatives among four logistics provider companies were selected using the proposed method.

Localization of Relevant Urban Micro-Consolidation Centers for Last-Mile Cargo Bike Delivery Based on Real Demand Data and City Characteristics

The use of cargo cycles for last-mile parcel distribution requires urban micro-consolidation centers (UMC). We develop an approach to localize suitable locations for UMCs with the consideration of three criteria: demand, land use, and type of road. The analysis considers metric levels (demand), linguistic levels (land use), and cardinal levels (type of road). The land-use category is divided into commercial, residential, mixed commercial and residential, and others. The type of road category is divided into bicycle road, pedestrian zone, oneway road, and traffic-calmed road. The approach is a hybrid multi-criteria analysis combining an Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) and PROMETHEE methods. We apply the approach to the city center of Stuttgart in Germany, using real demand data provided by a large logistics service provider. We compared different scenarios weighting the criteria differently with DART software. The different weight allocation results in different numbers of required UMCs and slightly different locations. This research was able to develop, implement, and successfully apply the proposed approach. In subsequent steps, stakeholders such as logistics companies and cities should be involved at all levels of this approach to validate the selected criteria and depict the “weight” of each criterion.

Halal Logistics Practices: Logistics Service Provider Cases in Indonesia

This study examines critical factors in affecting halal business management, particularly challenges in Halal logistics implementation faced by the logistics service provider as well as its potential and opportunities for Halal based business in Indonesia. An In-depth, semi-structured interview is conducted to deepen the understanding and to provide detailed data of the study. The study found that there are several factors influencing halal logistics implementation. In terms of business strategy, there are external and internal factors that affect halal logistics practices. Such as market-driven, perception benefit of halal logistic certification followed by customer loyalty, challenges in implementing halal logistics, the complexity of operation halal logistics, and invariably regulation factors. All of those factors have become a prior factor in implementing halal logistics practices. The findings can provide a guideline in how to implement halal logistics practices in logistic service provider business, especially in transportation and warehousing process, along with the expected result for its business performance.

WeIghtIng the factors affectıng logıstıcs outsourcıng

Today, growing and changing competitive conditions, products, and services, free movement of labor, and businesses with the information they develop strategies that create value to obtain a competitive advantage. Now, final buyers have the convenience of purchasing the products they demand with the features and conditions they want and at the price they accept. In such an environment, businesses use their supply chain and logistics activities more effectively and efficiently than their competitors. Today, achieving a strategic superiority in a global market where the content and quality of the products are the same is only possible by delivering the desired products to the customer at the desired price, at the desired time, in the desired amount, through the right channel, as quickly as possible and without any damage. In such a situation, the desire to focus on the main activities of the enterprises, the need for effective logistics operations, etc. logistics outsourcing has increased rapidly for reasons. Businesses can carry out logistics activities requiring expertise thanks to third party logistics (3PL) service providers in the field such as transportation, storage, customs clearance, without investing in logistics. For logistics outsourcing to be beneficial, a correct logistics service provider must be selected under the needs of the business. Selecting the right logistics service provider is important in increasing the benefit of outsourcing. In this study neutrosophic AHP was used to prioritize the factors.