Despite many challenges facing micro, small and medium enterprises in Kenya, they are yet to embrace full automation of inventories. Therefore the general purpose of this study was to assess factors affecting the automation of inventory management in micro, small and medium enterprises in Kenya. The study adopted descriptive research design. The target population for the study was 200 respondents. Therefore, census was conducted. The researchers used questionnaire to collect information from respondents. The collected data was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative techniques. The study found out that majority of employees in the micro, small and medium enterprises have inadequate information technology skills and hence has hindered the automation of inventories. Also, the study found out that financial accessibility is an obstacle in financing automation of inventories. The study recommended that micro, small and medium enterprises should train its workforce to equip them with information technology skills, and allocate more funds towards automation of inventory.
The goal of this research paper is to explore logistics strategy as a competitive tool for firm performance; the moderating effect of effectiveness of customer service: by presenting academic and practical advantages by explaining the preceding and suggesting a forward-looking research agenda based on a conceptual framework for competitiveness in logistics strategy. For support today's logistics managers and scholars, a literature review is established for scrutinize what was previously studied and what needs to be examined. From a focal firm perspective, the research expands the understanding of logistics strategy as a competitive tool while linking customer service effectiveness and the limitations for eventual research.
Design/Methodology/Approach: This study utilizes a systematic literature review to design a suggested conceptual framework for a research agenda on a competitive tool for firm performance on the subject of logistics strategy; the moderating effect of effectiveness of customer service.
Findings: The research paper provides insights into deficiencies in the current logistics strategy literature. The research paper explicitly recommends exploring the logistics strategy as it relates to expected and actual performance moderated by the effectiveness of customer service.
Research limitations/implications: This article makes several unique literature contributions. First it offers the first comprehensive concise overview of the core concepts used for the logistics strategy in the current research. Next, three particular strategies that influence firm performance are examined. Third it explores the customer service effectiveness' moderating effect. Fourth as a competitive tool unnoticed problems are then exposed as ideas for potential research in logistics strategy. Eventually, when carrying out a similar exercise, the approach used to perform the systematic literature review can be used as a model for potential researchers.
Practical implications: Contemporary research is aimed at providing a research group that address the needs of modern corporate executives.
Originality/value: As a competitive tool for firm performance, the article presents a suggested conceptual framework for logistics strategy; the moderating effect of customer service effectiveness.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.