Logistics in estonian business companies

The article describes logistics survey in Estonia carried out in 2007 as a part of the LogOnBaltic project. The level of logistics in Estonian manufacturing, trading and logistics companies is explored through logistics costs, performance indicators, outsourcing, ICT use and logistics self‐estimation of the companies responded. Responses from 186 Estonian companies were gathered through a web‐based survey (38% of manufacturing, 38% of trading and 24% of logistics sector). Logistics costs as the percentage of turnover make in average 13.8% in manufacturing and 13.3% in trading. Transportation and inventory carrying cost form around 70% of overall logistics costs. Considering the logistics indicators surveyed, Estonian companies show up with relatively low perfect order fulfillment rates, short customer order fulfillment cycles and effective management of cash flows. The most widely outsourced logistics function is international transportation followed by domestic transportation, freight forwarding and reverse logistics. By 2010, the outsourcing of IT systems in logistics followed by inventory management, warehousing and product customization is expected to increase more substantially. The awareness of logistics importance is still low among Estonian companies. Only 27–44% of those agree that logistics has a considerable impact on profitability, competitive advantage, top management or customer service level. First published online: 27 Oct 201

A comparative study of market potential for logistics outsourcing in Estonia and Finland

Purpose This research analyzes the development of logistics outsourcing market in two countries, Estonia and Finland, with different paths as members of the single European market. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the two markets have become more similar or whether their logistics costs and logistics markets have developed differently over time. Design/methodology/approach The development of the logistics market is addressed through two survey-based variables. Logistics costs are used to measure the size of the logistics market, whereas logistics outsourcing is analyzed to measure the development phase as well as the market potential for logistics service provision. Findings Estonian logistics outsourcing market was found to be underdeveloped and small compared to the Finnish market. At the same time, the logistics costs of Finnish companies are high and rising, whereas the costs of Estonian firms are declining. Research limitations/implications The results imply that the level of outsourcing might explain the visibility of logistics costs, which should be taken into account when making estimates on logistics costs both at the firm as well as on country level. Social implications Logistics sector is an important source of national competitiveness and employment. This research identifies subareas for the two countries on how to develop competitiveness through the logistics market. Originality/value This research provides a unique method to estimate the size of logistics outsourcing market in these two countries. It also represents as one of the rare works to provide multiyear comparison between countries in logistics costs.</p

ESTONIAN LOGISTICS MARKET 2018 SURVEY: ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

Background: Estonian logistics market survey has been completed three times (during years 2007, 2012 and 2018), and this research reports development from the most recent survey concerning operating conditions and logistics costs as well as performance. Survey concerns manufacturing, trading and logistics service companies.Methods: Research data was gathered through an online survey executed during summer and early autumn of 2018. The survey received a total of 122 responses from manufacturing, trade and logistics service provision. Results of the study are compared to earlier years, and with the same approach completed Finnish logistics market survey.Results: Survey responses showed that Estonian logistics market has been experiencing overheating and the costs of logistics activities are clearly increasing. Logistics service providers have experienced negative effects resulting thereof more than manufacturers or trading companies. Inventories and delivery times have increased, which has resulted in longer cash conversion cycles. Other than inventory and lead time related supply chain metrics have developed positively, indicating that the overall performance in Estonian logistics has remained high.Conclusions: Increase of logistics costs and inventories remain as main future challenge for Estonian logistics. In other regards, development has been good, and quality of e.g. logistics services and customs have increased and is at high level.</div

Modelling Wholesale Company’s Supply Chain Using System Dynamics

Research is based on wholesale and distribution operations of real-life case company, and in this setting, the most critical part of company’s supply chain is the inventory replenishment to warehouse (Distribution Center) as well as fulfilling and delivering customers’ orders. Different Economic Order Quantity (EOQ)-based models have been considered (Reorder Point, Reorder Point with pipeline on order inventory, and “pulse train”). Simulation system evaluates annual total logistics costs. Results show that in an environment, where local warehouse inventory levels are rather high and replenishment order quantity is rather small, it is important have frequent shipments divided in suitable intervals. In simulation model, this could be done e.g. with the use of “pulse train” function or incorporating pipeline on order inventory in order decision. The research findings are valid for a small-scale supply chain servicing small and geographically limited markets with clients assuming high customer service levels (e.g. 24-hours lead time). For bigger markets, the cross-docking based supply chain models are worth considering in simulations

Przegląd estońskiego rynku logistycznego 2018: analiza i wnioski

Background: Estonian logistics market survey has been completed three times (during years 2007, 2012 and 2018), and this research reports development from the most recent survey concerning operating conditions and logistics costs as well as performance. Survey concerns manufacturing, trading and logistics service companies. Methods: Research data was gathered through an online survey executed during summer and early autumn of 2018. The survey received a total of 122 responses from manufacturing, trade and logistics service provision. Results of the study are compared to earlier years, and with the same approach completed Finnish logistics market survey. Results: Survey responses showed that Estonian logistics market has been experiencing overheating and the costs of logistics activities are clearly increasing. Logistics service providers have experienced negative effects resulting there of more than manufacturers or trading companies. Inventories and delivery times have increased, which has resulted in longer cash conversion cycles. Other than inventory and lead time related supply chain metrics have developed positively, indicating that the overall performance in Estonian logistics has remained high. Conclusions: Increase of logistics costs and inventories remain as main future challenge for Estonian logistics. In other regards, development has been good, and quality of e.g. logistics services and customs have increased and is at high level.Wstęp: analiza estońskiego rynku logistycznego była realizowana trzy razy (w latach 2007, 2012 oraz 2018). Poniższa praca prezentuje najświeższe wyniki dotyczące warunków operacyjnych oraz kosztów logistycznych. Badanie obejmuje przedsiębiorstwa z branży przetwórczej, handlowej i logistycznej. Metody: Dane wejściowe zostały zebrane poprzez ankiety przeprowadzone on-line w okresie lato- wczesna jesień 2018. Uzyskana 122 odpowiedzi od przedsiębiorstw z branży przetwórczej, handlowej oraz logistycznej. Uzyskane wyniki zostały porównane z wcześniej uzyskanymi wynikami z poprzednich lat, przy zastosowaniu tej samej metodologii. Wyniki: Wyniki wskazują, że estoński rynek logistyczny wykazuje objawy przegrzania oraz wyraźny wzrost kosztów operacji logistycznych. Dostawcy usług logistycznych doświadczają wyraźniejszych negatywnych efektów w porównaniu z przedsiębiorstwami produkcyjnymi. Zaobserwowano wzrost zapasów oraz okresów dostaw, co skutkuje dłuższymi cyklami obiegu pieniężnego. Wnioski: Wzrost kosztów logistycznych pozostaje wyzwaniem przyszłości dla estońskich logistyków. Jednak rozwój i jakość usług logistycznych wzrasta i jest na wysokim poziomie

Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Information & Engineering Systems: Proceedings of the 24th International Conference KES2020

Logistics and supply chain management are critical for economic sustainability. In this research, we aim to identify the most critical factors to logistics and supply chain performance for a small open economy by reporting survey results from Estonian manufacturing, trading and logistics service companies. By comparing survey results from 2012 and 2018, we also analyze how these critical factors may have changed during the last years. In the survey, the significance of competitiveness, functionality of logistics, and information and communication technologies (ICT) among others were included. The results indicate that the importance of factors such as purchasing, demand forecasting and operations planning have increased. Overall, purchasing and demand forecasting are considered more important than other factors. Surprisingly, logistics was considered less vital in 2018 than in 2012. Most of the current challenges in companies arise from demand management (forecasting and planning), increasing labour costs and regulatory changes. On ICT side change has been from traditional communications more towards digital, and especially using specific platforms (portals, intranet/extranet).</p