A Survey-Based Study on ICT Adoption in the Third-Party Logistics Industry

• Published in: International journal of information systems and supply chain management Vol. 5; no. 4; pp. 65 - 85
• Main Authors: Lau, Kwok Hung, Huang, Haibo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hershey IGI Global 01.10.2012
• Subjects: Business; China; Customers; Developing countries; Domestic; Information systems; International business enterprises; LDCs; Logistics; Logistics management; Logistics services; Outsourcing; Supply chains; Third party; Australia; Canada; China
• ISSN: 1935-5726; 1935-5734
• DOI: 10.4018/jisscm.2012100104

Information and communication technology (ICT) is an important tool to enhance efficiency and responsiveness in modern-day supply chains. Owing to fierce market competition and rapidly changing business environment, organizations are forced to focus on their core competency and outsource their logistics function to third-party logistics (3PL) firms. In order to work hand-in-hand with customers to meet their day-to-day logistics needs, 3PL companies have to make use of ICT for efficient communication with clients and coordination of activities. Through analyzing the survey results of the Annual Third-Party Logistics Studies from 2007 to 2009, this study looks into ICT utilization in the 3PL industry from a global perspective. To supplement the findings, a questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the current status of ICT adoption by 3PL firms in China. As a global manufacturing base, China has a burgeoning 3PL industry serving a large number of domestic firms as well as multinational corporations, and is considered a representative developing country for investigation in the subject area.