Evaluating logistics outsourcing: a survey conducted with Brazilian industries

Abstract

PurposeThis research aims to evaluate the factors that influence logistics outsourcing, including the impact of logistics outsourcing on measuring companies' logistics performance. This research provides interactions among the various factors (constructs) such as “financial”, “collaboration and process characteristics”, “external influencer”, and “logistics performance”.Design/methodology/approachTo investigate the interaction between the constructs, structural equation modelling is proposed to understand what the relevant criteria are while outsourcing logistics. Data were acquired from surveys conducted with 129 managers from Brazilian companies in the industry sector.FindingsThe factor “collaboration and process characteristics” is what most influences the “logistics performance” of companies, highlighting the importance of managing contractors; and the “financial” factor also contributes to the logistic outsourcing decision.Research limitations/implicationsSome limitations of this study need to be clarified. First, the model could test the moderate and mediate aspects by using variables inspired on RBV and TCE. Second, the sample is relatively small and restricted to the Brazilian industries' case, although the results may be useful for other countries in the world. Third, the responses represent viewpoints of the people who work in the companies. To address this issue, the authors asked respondents to fill out the questionnaire from the perspective of the organisation.Practical implicationsMost 3PL come from developed countries and find different requirements in Brazil. Then, this new knowledge may help 3L providers better understand the needs of the local or foreign companies that operate in the local market. The measurement model may also help to construct a new organisational process, as it sheds light on the main elements necessary for gathering logistics performance outcomes.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, the literature lacks studies on the interaction among these logistics outsourcing constructs, mainly in emerging markets where significant growth opportunities have led to logistics activities being outsourced. The literature that examines the impact of these constructs on logistics performance is also limited. Therefore, this research contributes to providing a model that measures these impacts according to the company's point of view.

Analysis of Incoterms and Relational Resources to Improve Competitive Advantage: A Study of Freight Forwarders Company in Indonesia

“…RBV has been used in the literature currently available for logistics study. (Cho and Lee, 2020;Doratiotto et al, 2023;Dovbischuk, 2022;Elliot et al, 2020;Filho and Moori, 2020;Khan et al, 2022;König et al, 2019;Lukovszki et al, 2020;Lv et al, 2021;Nur' Atikah Zulkiffli et al, 2019;Pengman et al, 2022;Sazzadur Rahman Khan and Rattanawiboonsom, 2020). Cho and Lee (2020), utilizing RBV, transaction cost analysis (TCA), and institutional theory, examine how the increase in transportation would affect logistics.…”

“…Cho and Lee (2020), utilizing RBV, transaction cost analysis (TCA), and institutional theory, examine how the increase in transportation would affect logistics. Doratiotto et al (2023) Assess the factors that affect logistics outsourcing, including the impact of logistics outsourcing on the company's logistics performance measurement. Dovbischuk (2022) Investigated enterprise performance among logistics service providers during the coronavirus.…”

Linking resource bundling and logistics capability with performance: study on 3PL providers in India

“…3PLs are characterised as IJPPM 73,1 contemporary supply chain orchestrators that establish and maintain a competitive edge for their customers. Doratiotto et al (2022) surveyed 129 Brazilian 3PL businesses as part of their study on logistics outsourcing. Collaboration and process factors have the greatest influence on 3PL logistics success, according to the study.…”

“…3PLs are characterised as contemporary supply chain orchestrators that establish and maintain a competitive edge for their customers. Doratiotto et al. (2022) surveyed 129 Brazilian 3PL businesses as part of their study on logistics outsourcing.…”

Attitudes of 3PL Providers of the Companies towards the Activities of Organizational Performance

“…Ref. [16] assessed the impact of logistics outsourcing on businesses' logistical performance and concluded that "collaboration and process characteristics" was the factor most strongly influencing logistics performance.…”