How can logistics service providers foster supply chain collaboration in logistics triads? Insights from the Italian grocery industry

Purpose Collaborative solutions are increasingly being proposed to generate value in supply chains. Concurrently, firms have progressively outsourced logistics operations to logistics service providers (LSPs). However, many questions remain unsolved regarding the role played by LSPs in supporting supply chain collaboration (SCC) in triadic rather than dyadic contexts. This study aims to explore the relational mechanisms that LSPs can leverage to foster value creation through collaboration, elaborating on an existing theory about SCC by focussing on logistics triads. Design/methodology/approach By leveraging the view of the network theory, a multiple case study approach was adopted. Seven cases having logistics triads as units of analysis were identified and analysed within the Italian grocery supply chain, allowing for empirical investigation with a middle-range approach to extend the previous theory. Findings LSPs are pivotal actors that can actively promote SCC. LSPs can exploit large volumes and asset availability to increase efficiency while improving logistics flexibility and developing regular and trustworthy relationships with the other triad members. Building upon their logistics capabilities and the relational mechanisms in place, LSPs can help manufacturers collaborate with retailers by improving mutual trust and communication, acting as trust builders or trust conductors within the triad. Originality/value The study explores the role of LSPs in logistics triads, extending the previous literature. It highlights that LSPs facilitate not only supply and demand integration but also relational integration between firms. Trust emerges as a fundamental building block for SCC, as LSPs can look beyond economic benefits to foster partnerships that empower the co-development of original collaborative solutions.

Bibliometric Analysis of the Potential of Technologies in the Humanitarian Supply Chain

This study presents a bibliometric analysis of research on technology in the humanitarian supply chain. The methodology includes performance analysis and science mapping to explore the application of technologies in humanitarian supply chains. This paper contributes to the literature by examining the most influential authors, trends, journals, countries, institutions, and the recent humanitarian supply chain collaboration. The information presented in this research was obtained with the Scopus database. The study identified 342 documents after applying filters to screen for duplicates and manuscripts unrelated to the topic. The articles were analyzed using MS Excel and VOSviewer. The research provides an overview of state of the art showing a high collaboration between the authors Ramesh A. and Kabra C, and the most relevant institutions were the Griffith Business School and the Delft University of Technology. Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management and Journal of Disaster Research were the most productive journals. The terms analysis shows that “disasters”, “disaster prevention”, “humanitarian logistics”, and “human” are the most used keywords. The study identifies future research lines related to the interaction between critical technologies to deliver real benefits to the humanitarian supply chain. As a result, it proposes integrating the significant contributions of new technologies, such as blockchain, big data, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, virtual and augmented reality, and the social media relief phase following the disaster. It also indicates gaps in knowledge in terms of research related to human-made disasters and health emergencies.

Understanding influence of supply chain collaboration on innovation-based market performance

Purpose In today’s world, supply chain collaboration becomes an essential source of attaining competitive advantage to make the position in the global market in terms of information, expertise and risk-sharing abilities. Hence the purpose of this study is to highlight the understanding of the value and importance of collaboration in innovation and to strategically implement such steps to achieve supply chain collaboration capabilities. Design/methodology/approach The data of 269 respondents were collected from supply chain professionals belong to the different industrial sectors in Karachi, Pakistan. The data was analyzed by using structural equation modeling. Findings This study finds that supplier collaboration brings radical as well as incremental innovation. In contrast, internal collaboration brings incremental innovation, whereas collaboration with customers has an insignificant impact on incremental innovation. Furthermore, both types of innovations have a positive and significant influence on market performance. Research limitations/implications This study's outcome improves the understanding of the types of innovation enhanced by each construct of collaboration. Supply chain experts or managers are motivated to implement innovation to improve the firm's overall market performance. Originality/value This research will contribute to the literature by sharing the understanding of the relationship among supply chain members as they collaborate for innovation purposes. All supply chains develop a sustainable competitive advantage in market performance.

An analysis of supply chain collaboration index by using FAHP and SCCI: a case study of organic fertiliser company X, Indonesia

Supply chain collaboration is one of the most crucial variables of driving business success in organic fertiliser Companies, especially to maintain the continual flow from upstream to downstream. Therefore, understanding the level of collaboration factors is vital in sustaining the partnership as well as reducing any conflicts among stakeholders. This study aims to measure the depth of collaboration among Company X and its suppliers. The assessment of the supply chain collaboration index will perform Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) to weight the collaboration behaviour factors and Supply Chain Collaboration Index (SCCI) to measure the depth level of collaboration. The collaboration behaviour factors examined in this study are including joint effort, collaboration values, sharing activities, adaptation, trust, power, stability, commitment, continuous improvement and coordination. Based on the computation process using SCCI, the collaboration index among company X and its supplier is 76.72 on a scale of 1-100. It implies that the collaboration is at a moderate level. Consequently, the company needs to recognise the low score factors and develop a strategy for improvement. Some aspects that deserve further attention are sharing activities, power, and stability. By enhancing the performance of these factors, the supply chain collaboration index can also be increased.

Enhancing business competitiveness of medium-sized food produce retailers through supply chain management

Background: Adoption of supply chain management (SCM) initiatives by businesses has resulted in businesses to follow a customer-centric approach in their operation. SCM initiatives nowadays play a critical role in the success and business competitiveness of organisations in ensuring that the customer requirements are satisfied. The purpose of this study was to explore whether business competitiveness of medium-sized food product retailers in Mahikeng is enhanced through SCM in South Africa. There was no empirical evidence of SCM practices found relating to SCM of medium-sized food product retailers in Mahikeng.Research objectives: This study explored whether SCM and supply chain collaboration enhance business competitiveness of medium-sized food product retailers in Mahikeng town, South Africa.Research methodology: A qualitative research method, descriptive design, non-probability sampling strategy were followed to conduct the study. The notes and recorded interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed following thematic data analysis to get to the results.Results: The study showed that SCM enhances the business competitiveness of medium-sized food product retailers in South Africa. The results revealed that the competitiveness of the retailers is enhanced through good and improved supplier/ customer relationships by sustained continuous flow of goods and services.Conclusion: This study implicated that competitive advantage and resource-based view theories can be used to explore business competitiveness in South Africa. Implications of the findings indicated that owner/managers will understand the benefits of adopting initiatives of SCM.