Supply Chain Management
How Logistics Is Evolving: Why It Is Appropriate for Today and the Next Decade

Article Details
Pub. Date : March 21
Product Name : The IUP Journal of Supply Chain Management
Product Type : Article
Product Code : IJSCM10321
Author Name : Shannon Cleary and Carolan McLarney
Availability : YES
Subject/Domain : Strategic
Download Format : PDF Format
No. of Pages : 18

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Abstract

Logistics management is a critical function of supply chain management. To ensure successful integration across all business platforms means a business must have a global view of the entire supply chain. This paper will explore the future of logistics as we move into the second decade of the 21st century. The future, we posit, will include continued growth through collaboration and crowd sourcing structures. Internet connectivity through cloud computing will provide transparent and precise delivery tracking across multiple third-party logistics operators. We conclude that a sophisticated and well-integrated logistics application can manage contracts, containerization, fuel costs, track commitments and deadlines, layer in new contracts and services and track overall quality. Increased regulations, government support and transparency through a centralized database could also improve the quality of data and flow of goods across the borders to facilitate more trade and logistics services. Corporations like Walmart, Uber, Mercedes-Benz and Amazon will be used as examples.


Description

Globalization has positively impacted logistics into a single management perspective. Logistics management is a critical function of supply chain management. To ensure successful integration across all business platforms means a business must have a global view of the entire supply chain. With immense changes across industries, logistics and transportation models, there are many opportunities and risks to consider.

It has long been known that logistics capabilities can make major contributions to overall corporate strategy and performance, and they can even sometimes provide the core competitive competence by creating differentiated customer value (Marchesini and Alcantara, 2016).

The global logistics industry is estimated at over $4 tn in revenues, therefore businesses must adapt to changing markets to maintain their future revenue growth.

Successful business will be agile, quick to make changes and decisions, to compete in the market. Some of those changes may include cutting costs and freeing up resources to focus on key areas that align with the business strategy.