Value-Added Services From a Port Centric Logistics Perspective: A Literature Review

Abstract

The traditional roles of a port such as cargo (un)loading, and storage, are not sufficient in the severe competitive environment anymore. As customer requirements are constantly changing, the raison d'être of a port needs to be re-evaluated and a port should be repositioned as a value-added logistics services hub. For instance, ports, service-providing actors in the supply chain, can expand the cargo types served through value-added logistics services offered in the port area or within its close vicinity.and increase their revenues. Port customers, particularly shippers, can benefit from obtaining additional value-added logistics services and achieving cost advantage by eliminating certain supply chain activities. Such positive contributions are key to achieving a competitive advantage for both customers and ports. Although there are a considerable number of research that concentrate on improving port competitiveness, few numbers of research address the valueadded services provided by ports for increasing their competitiveness or harmonization to a port-centric logistics viewpoint. For this reason, this research concentrates on establishing a value-added logistics services bundle that disclose whether a port embraces an approach for port-centric logistics. In order to reach that aim, we conduct a systematic literature review, which initially provides some statistics about the journals in which the accessed articles are published, the nations of the first authors' institutions, and the findings of the books, discussion papers, and reports reached. Additionally, the results of the research show that light manufacturing and assembly, packing and information and communication technologies are the most common value-added logistics services. Although these services are the sources of competitive advantage for a port, these services need to be continuously developed in order to provide long-term sustainable competitive advantage in the port industry, which is a dynamic market.