Logistics and the management of information flow

Information flow is a crucial component of activities in the logistics area. Each flow of raw materials and goods is also accompanied by the flow of information. Unlike the movement of goods, the flow of information is always two-directional. Information flow is a necessary guarantee for the movement of goods in the economy. Additionally, information which is passed at the end of the logistic process is a confirmation of the delivery. The aim of this study is the presentation of conditions referring to the management of information flow in different aspects of logistic activities. The flow of information in logistics supports the collaboration between a supplier and a recipient of goods, it connects individual links in the supply chain. As there is the need for efficient and quick transfer of all information available in an enterprise, cutting-edge information systems are commonly used in each of the areas of logistic activities. Contemporary IT solutions applied in the area of logistics help to increase the process speed and information accessibility. Logistics is a type of activity which shows in this scope great willingness and effectiveness of the implementation of innovative solution

Evaluating the Ability to Achieve Efficiency in Providing Services of the Freight Forwarding Firms in Viet Nam

In recent years, Vietnam freight forwarding industry is growing and contributing significantly to the national GDP. However, the efficiency in providing service delivery at the domestic firms is not high to compete with multinational companies that are strong potential and finance. There have been many studies on freight forwarding, but mainly qualitative research and other studies are in-depth analysis logistics. This research presents the factors that affect efficiency in providing services. This research has been used factor analysis method and binary regression model (Binary Logistics) and identified 4 factors that affect the efficiency in providing service of freight forwarding firms: (1) Resources of business (2) Outcomes (3) The quality of staffs (4) The relationship between enterprises and their customers, and outcomes is the factor provided the highest positive correlation to the ability to achieve efficiency in providing services of freight forwarding firms.Binary Logistic model showed the probability of business efficiency is 72.5%. Thus, at the level of resources to provide services is 3.35, the outcome is 3.66, quality of the staffs is 3.59 and the relationship with customers is 3.40, shows that enterprises operate efficiently. Value prediction accuracy of the model is 93.3%

An evaluation of urban consolidation centers through continuous analysis with non-equal market share companies

This paper analyzes the logistic cost savings caused by the implementation of Urban Consolidation Centers (UCC) in a dense area of a city. In these urban terminals, freight flows from interurban carriers are consolidated and transferred to a neutral last-mile carrier to perform final deliveries. This operation would reduce both last-mile fleet size and average distance cost. Our UCC modeling approach is focused on continuous analytic models for the general case of carriers with different market shares. Savings are highly sensitive to the design of the system: the increment of capacity in interurban vehicles and the proximity of the UCC terminal to the area in relation to current distribution centers. An exhaustive collection of possible market shares distributions are discussed. Results show that market shares distribution does not affect cost savings significantly. The analysis of the proposed model also highlights the trade-off between savings in the system and a minimum market share per company when the consolidation center is established.Postprint (published version

Seafood export as a relationship-oriented supply network : evidence from Norwegian seafood exporters

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of relationships and networking in the international flow of seafood products through export processes and practices using empirical case examples. Design/methodology/approach: This paper provides an insight into seafood export through 10 case studies of seafood exporters from Norway and a freight forwarder working with most of these companies. Findings: The international seafood business is characterised by coordination, interactions and exchange such that economic and social interactions among network members transcend national boundaries into international/global markets. Findings reveal how studied seafood exports are in line with the learning-based Uppsala internationalisation model, embedded in international buyer-seller relationship structures and networks, which is also a particularity of this food-producing industry. To secure long-term business in distant markets, small and medium-sized (SME) seafood exporters have shifted the focus from transactional approaches to relationships and networking as a means of improving export performance. This paper suggests how logistics and marketing have become closely and strategically interconnected, and so marketing strategies depend on logistics strategies and the two cannot be separated in a typical global seafood supply network. Practical implications: Purposeful collaborative interaction between exporter and importer helps in risk mitigation. Increased interactions in distant markets by SMEs can also be achieved using social media networking. Originality/value: This paper offers an insight into the global seafood supply network using empirical case examples from Norway, an important seafood producing country.acceptedVersio

Creating Opportunities to Developing Leadership in Private Sector Enterprises of Bangladesh-A Study in Airlines/ Shipping/Freight Forwarding Industry

Developing and nurturing leadership is become very popular concept now a days. Big corporation at least understand the hidden benefit of focusing into this very important agenda for long term sustainability of business. We have experienced that organizations is automatically moving even if there is sudden demise of the owner. It happens because of the system developed through creating, retaining and nurturing leadership to create successor within the organizations. Over the years, the mind set was isolated with one man show to run everything by one individual regrettable when the owner is the signatory of all bills and vouchers to strategic decisions. This point probably gets more focus when the employee also understands and realized the necessity of growth and advancement in professions. So the perception and reality is a win-win expectation arises behind the focus to creating leadership opportunities in organizations. This article exhibits the means and opportunities to creating, developing & nurturing leadership by private sector organizations in Bangladesh giving a particular focus in airlines, shipping lines & supply chain and freight forwarding logistics companies working in Bangladesh as international joint –venture and licensing agents. This also focused on the factors related with the Leadership development, the end benefit that organizations dreamt to attain from leadership development and suggestion to take more initiatives in particular attentions. The article has been designed through structures questionnaire from about 150 employees of midlevel, senior level, and executive level including human resources managers on the employee views on current practices. The hypothesis developed in four grades related to the study objective. There is group discussion and practical work experiences of the author with one of the largest supply chain and freight forwarding logistics company operating in 21 countries around the globe. The data has been presented in an understandable way of descriptive analysis through mean, mode and standard deviation so that it might be more meaningful to contribute the relevancy of the study. Keywords: Leadership, feedback, technique, airlines, shipping lines, freight forwardin

Enabling the freight traffic controller for collaborative multi-drop urban logistics: practical and theoretical challenges

There is increasing interest in how horizontal collaboration between parcel carriers might help alleviate problems associated with last-mile logistics in congested urban centers. Through a detailed review of the literature on parcel logistics pertaining to collaboration, along with practical insights from carriers operating in the United Kingdom, this paper examines the challenges that will be faced in optimizing multicarrier, multidrop collection, and delivery schedules. A “freight traffic controller” (FTC) concept is proposed. The FTC would be a trusted third party, assigned to equitably manage the work allocation between collaborating carriers and the passage of vehicles over the last mile when joint benefits to the parties could be achieved. Creating this FTC concept required a combinatorial optimization approach for evaluation of the many combinations of hub locations, network configuration, and routing options for vehicle or walking to find the true value of each potential collaboration. At the same time, the traffic, social, and environmental impacts of these activities had to be considered. Cooperative game theory is a way to investigate the formation of collaborations (or coalitions), and the analysis used in this study identified a significant shortfall in current applications of this theory to last-mile parcel logistics. Application of theory to urban freight logistics has, thus far, failed to account for critical concerns including (a) the mismatch of vehicle parking locations relative to actual delivery addresses; (b) the combination of deliveries with collections, requests for the latter often being received in real time during the round; and (c) the variability in travel times and route options attributable to traffic and road network conditions

Analysis of Incoterms and Relational Resources to Improve Competitive Advantage: A Study of Freight Forwarders Company in Indonesia

This study aims to analyze the impact of Incoterm and relational resources on the competitive advantage of Indonesian Freight forwarders. The measurement methodology uses structural equation model (SEM) analysis with SmartPLS software to analyze the impact of Incoterms and relational resources on competitive advantage. Through social media, online questionnaires were sent to gather research data. The Likert scale of 5 was used to create the questionnaire. Companies that provide freight forwarding services were the respondents in this study, chosen by simple random sampling. Online questionnaires were distributed to 75 companies to answer questions submitted. The data analysis step is validity tests, reliability tests, significance tests, and hypothesis tests. Based on the data processing results, it is found that Incoterm and relational resources positively affect competitive advantages. The novelty of this study is a model of the relationship between the effect of Incoterm and relational resources on the competitive advantage of freight forwarding companies. The research's theoretical implication is that Freight forwarder companies' management should select appropriate incoterms and implement relational resource policies to encourage increased competitive advantage. One of the limitations of this study is that the sample size used is only a small number of companies engaged in international Freight Forwarder services, only 75 companies

Horizontal collaboration between logistics service providers (LSP) in Australia: examining the structure opportunities and impediments

This research investigated horizontal collaboration among logistics service providers (LSPs) in Australia. The study examined the extent to which this exists and is being adopted, and the forms of any horizontal collaboration among LSPs in Australia. Using a qualitative methodology from an interpretivist-constructivist perspective, the research process used semi-structured interviews to collect responses from a broad range of individuals from Australian logistics providers, logistics authorities and associations. The study found that horizontal collaboration is not being adopted by LSPs as the primary type of relationship to interact with each other in Australia. Their focus is the use of both vertical and lateral collaboration models, with vertical collaboration as the dominant type. The data also show that the extent of direct involvement in developing horizontal collaboration activities in the Australian logistics context seems to be to remain largely at arm's length and enter operational relationships. The participants, however, anticipated that the level of horizontal collaboration would grow in the future. The data revealed that LSPs consider horizontal collaboration to be a promising concept. There is clear enthusiasm and interest in the thinking of the logistics industry about horizontal collaboration, its possibilities, potential structures and the areas where this type of collaboration could be implemented and employed. Potential opportunities and drivers of horizontal collaboration among LSPs were identified in the research. These were for LSPs seeking to reduce costs; improve productivity and market positioning; provide better customer service; and create better capability and capacity. The research found that the adoption of horizontal collaboration is impeded in the Australian logistics industry by difficulties with partner selection; problems with the partnership process and how economic benefits are determined and divided; and uncertainty about how to overcome difficulties with both business coordination and with information and communication technology. The research also identified that collaboration adoption is significantly negatively affected by the nature and structure of the Australian logistics industry, the attitude of large LSPs, fear of mergers and acquisitions in the industry and the role of government authorities and regulations in the Australian commercial context. The most significant effect of impediments to collaboration is that LSPs are reluctant or unable to build long-term successful horizontal collaborations with others in the Australian logistics industry. This thesis uses the results of the data analysis and the existing research frameworks on collaboration in logistics to develop a theoretical model for understanding the development and effective application of horizontal collaboration. It proposes a comprehensive horizontal logistics collaboration model and evaluates its applicability in the Australian logistics context

China's accession to the World Trade Organization - The services dimension

China's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) commitments represent the most radical services reform program negotiated in the World Trade Organization. China has promised to eliminate over the next few years most restrictions on foreign entry and ownership, as well as most forms of discrimination against foreign firms. These changes are in themselves desirable. However, realizing the gains from, and perhaps even the sustainability of, liberalization will require the implementation of complementary regulatory reform and the appropriate sequencing of reforms. Three issues, in particular, merit attention: 1) Initial restrictions on the geographical scope of services liberalization could encourage the further agglomeration of economic activity in certain regions-to an extent that is unlikely to be reversed completely by subsequent countrywide liberalization. 2) Restrictions on foreign ownership (temporary in most sectors but more durable in telecommunications and life insurance) may dampen the incentives of foreign investors to improve firm performance. 2) Improved prudential regulation and measures to deal with the large burden of non-performing loans on state banks are necessary to deliver the benefits of liberalization in financial services. And in basic telecommunications and other network-based services, meaningful liberalization will be difficult to achieve without strengthened pro-competitive regulation.Payment Systems&Infrastructure,Public Sector Economics&Finance,ICT Policy and Strategies,Banks&Banking Reform,Environmental Economics&Policies,Trade and Services,ICT Policy and Strategies,Banks&Banking Reform,Public Sector Economics&Finance,Health Economics&Finance