The strategic importance of supply chains and the RFID radio data identification system

Purpose: The paper presents the issues related to the process of supply chain management. It presents the essence and classification of supply chains and the interpretation of global supply network management. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using systems theory as a basis, a RFID utilization and outcome(s) performance model was developed from the literature. The study uses surveys conducted among twenty companies in the 2016-2017 research year. Enterprises that use RFID technologies in the supply chain were analyzed. Findings: The Findings indicate that application of RFID technology leads to improved manufacturing efficiency and manufacturing effectiveness, while improvement in efficiency lead directly to improved organizational performance, and improvements in effectiveness lead directly to improved supply chain performance. Practical Implications: Certain policy implications and obligations accrue are companies that use RFID technology in their supply order to manage the company more efficiently. Originality/Value: The publication presents the results of research carried out in enterprises using the new RFID system as a modern technique of supporting supply chain management to increase the efficiency of cooperation throughout the entire supply chain.peer-reviewe

Traceability system for capturing, processing and providing consumer-relevant information about wood products: System solution and its economic feasibility

Current research and practice reports indicate the existence of purchase barriers concerning eco-friendly products, e.g. wood products. These can be ascribed to consumers' mistrust regarding the non-observable environmental impact of wood products. To counter the mistrust, wood products are commonly endowed with eco-labels, which may be perceived mostly as a marketing tool, therefore not fulfilling their intended purpose. Current studies have shown that providing consumers with wood product information based on traceability systems increases product trust and purchase intentions, with those information items most valued by consumers being identified as well. Based on this, the paper proposes a traceability information system for the capturing, processing, and provision of product information using examples of wood furniture. Furthermore, a cost-benefit model for the proposed solution is developed. The calculations indicate the possibility of implementing traceability at the item level based on a four-layer system architecture enabling the capture and delivery of all information valued by consumers at acceptable costs. The proposed system helps to overcome purchase barriers of eco-friendly products, increasing consumers' product trust and purchase intentions

Sustainable Development Report: Blockchain, the Web3 & the SDGs

This is an output paper of the applied research that was conducted between July 2018 - October 2019 funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and conducted by the Research Institute for Cryptoeconomics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and RCE Vienna (Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development).Series: Working Paper Series / Institute for Cryptoeconomics / Interdisciplinary Researc

Think Local-Act Local: Is It Time to Slow Down the Accelerated Move to Global Marketing?

In view of the accelerated move of great corporations towards global marketing, the strategic changes of such companies raise interesting questions. Is marketing globalization reaching its limits after years of implementation? Is it time for companies to rethink their strategies and move back, like Coca-Cola, to a multi-domestic marketing approach?Global Marketing, Multi-Domestic Marketing Approach, Brand Equity, Drawbacks of Marketing Globalization, Coca-Cola

Innovation in Marketing Channels

In more recent years, the context of globalization in which market channel structures and strategies are developing is bringing to a more complex concept of marketing channels, with disintermediation or reintermediation, multichanneling and new roles/specializations that are emerging as new issues.In this context, innovation in marketing channels becomes a complex, multiorganizational, multidisciplinary activity that requires collaboration and interactions across various entities within the supply chain network. In recent years, the innovation processes in marketing channels have occurred with high intensity and speed, especially following the changes spurred by technology that allowed the adoption of more efficient organizational solutions.Retail; Channel Structure; Innovation in Marketing Channels; Retail Technological Innovation; Global Markets

Sustainable Development Report: Blockchain, the Web3 & the SDGs

This is an output paper of the applied research that was conducted between July 2018 - October 2019 funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and conducted by the Research Institute for Cryptoeconomics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and RCE Vienna (Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development).Series: Working Paper Series / Institute for Cryptoeconomics / Interdisciplinary Researc

Drivers and Impacts of R&D Adoption on Transport and Logistics Services

Actually, technologies and applications in industries are changing via business restructuring, new business models, new knowledge and supply chains. So R&D is not focused primarily on manufacturing industry as it used to be, but on different kinds of industries as logistics and transport (TLS). Nevertheless, the characteristics of the TLS industry determine the introduction of specific R&D solutions accordingly to sectors operations. The objective of this paper is to describe the R&D opportunities in the TLS industry and how managers use them to make their businesses more innovative and efficient. Using the Structure-Conduct-Performance (SCP) model the paper identifies the links between R&D adoption and innovation dynamics. Relating the findings, on the driver’s side there are three points that are worth mentioning: increasing market competition, the relationships of firms interacting with each other and the availability and quality of complementary assets such as employee skills and IT know-how. On the impacts’ side, firms advanced in terms of implementing R&D solutions are more likely to implement organizational changes. Finally, a set of recommendations on how to further improve the continuous innovation in the TLS industry is presented

Big data analytics and application for logistics and supply chain management

This special issue explores big data analytics and applications for logistics and supply chain management by examining novel methods, practices, and opportunities. The articles present and analyse a variety of opportunities to improve big data analytics and applications for logistics and supply chain management, such as those through exploring technology-driven tracking strategies, financial performance relations with data driven supply chains, and implementation issues and supply chain capability maturity with big data. This editorial note summarizes the discussions on the big data attributes, on effective practices for implementation, and on evaluation and implementation methods

Traceability Research at Packaging Logistics

Research at the division of Packaging Logistics, Lund University, has been performed in numerous areas, ranging from organisational learning and sustainability to process integration and service development. One of these is the new and complex research area of traceability. When it comes to food scandals, from the mad cow disease at the end of the 90s to the more recent incident where glass has been found in chicken, this has increased focus on traceability research in food supply chains. A regulation within the European Union which came into force in February 2002 about procedures on food safety has articles (14-20) that treats traceability. The articles regarding traceability came into force January 2005 (EC regulation 178/2002). Article 3 defines traceability as “the ability to trace and follow a food, feed, food producing animal or substance intended to be or expected to incorporate through all stages of production, processing and distribution”. The sense of the regulation is that every actor in the food supply chain has to know from whom a product, ingredient etc. comes from, when it was delivered, what was delivered, what has been sold, when it was sold and to whom it was sold. However, even though much research has focused on traceability within food supply chains, it is not restricted just to this industry or issues regarding food quality and safety. This report presents research connected to the area of traceability which has been performed, as well as research currently being carried out at the division of Packaging Logistics in regard to research results, finished and ongoing projects as well as partner companies involved in research. Furthermore, this report will, based on problems with traceability pointed out in research and discussions with researchers at Packaging Logistics, present recommendations on where to continue or start focusing future traceability-connected research at the division. Research concerning traceability at Packaging Logistics has been versatile, allowing a comprehensive framework to be created. This framework includes components (necessary in order to achieve traceability), research/industry perspectives, tools and added values (showing the benefits achievable with traceability). In addition, traceability research at the Packaging Logistics has, to a great extent, focused on the food branch or food supply chain and external and not internal traceability. External traceability means the ability to trace a product/batch and its history back through the whole supply chain in contrast to internal traceability which is the ability to trace how ingredients and raw material within a certain actor in the supply chain is mixed, split and transported between different steps in the manufacturing process. Furthermore, this research has focused on finding and evaluating methods in order to ensure food safety and quality. This research has also pointed out the importance of collaboration between the actors in the supply chain and critical contexts, which is informational, relational and physical factors which together form contexts that are the weak points in the supply chain. These critical contexts should be in focus since it is these contexts where traceability is most likely to be lost. In other industries than food, focus has been of a more technical nature, mainly the implementation and evaluation of Auto-ID technology, thereby enhancing the possibilities of tracing goods. Suggestions for future traceability research studies include a larger project in, for example the pharmaceutical industry where traceability could be used to prevent counterfeit. The pharmaceutical industry is similar to the food industry in many ways as products need to be extremely safe since they greatly affect consumer health. Many of the tools developed in food industry-related research could be evaluated in such a project, making it possible to generalise results as well as transfer knowledge from one industry to another. Within the frame of a larger research project like the one proposed, it would be possible to collaborate between ongoing project borders, allowing different areas of traceability to be further examined as well as knowledge to be shared between research projects. Furthermore, traceability research at Packaging Logistics should continue to focus on external traceability and the critical contexts as well as information sharing, both from a “soft” perspective and a technical one. These issues are highlighted as obstacles to achieving the benefits of external traceability