Firstly, Global Logistics Digitization – Global Logistics Digitalization
With reduced transportation demand and excess post-production capacity, Logistics Service Providers (3PL-4PL) and shipping companies will face significant pressure to compete more effectively, reduce costs, and enhance customer service.
In 2023, digitization will be the most important strategy for LSPs and shipping companies to simultaneously address all these factors. As we have seen, in 2022, the logistics industry began experiencing the "first raindrops," and it is certain that the industry will face more challenges in 2023. Digitization here is not just about automation, but also about enhancing customer experience and reducing access time to seconds instead of days as it is currently.
Secondly, Global Supply Chain Rebalancing
Amid political tensions, the aftermath of Covid-19, and the VUCA era (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous), the focus will shift from the traditional cost optimization strategy towards resilience and adaptability. The concept of "friend-shoring," which sparked controversy in 2022, may become essential in 2023, as adopted by global supply chain directors.
Thirdly, LMaaS – Last Mile as a Service
E-commerce continues to boom (in contrast to B2B transactions), and customers demand faster, more accurate deliveries at increasingly lower prices. Large-scale companies like Amazon, Alibaba, Ebay, Bestbuy, Walmart can meet customer demands, but smaller companies struggle to do so. However, they must keep up if they want to survive.
Fourthly, Home/Last Mile Delivery Performance
A challenge that has troubled businesses in the industry for years and has been relatively underexplored in academic research. The pandemic led to setbacks in the delivery performance in both the B2C and B2B markets due to increased product volumes, coupled with a shortage of delivery personnel.
Fifthly, Application of Digital Technology in the Logistics and Supply Chain Management Field
Instead of merely referring to activities like technology adoption, crown shipping, machine learning, the theoretical foundations in this field are still lacking and fragmented, despite a significant increase in the frequency of publications and research in this area over the past five years.
Source: Business Forum Magazine
