Challenges and Threats Faced in 2020 by International Logistics Companies Operating on the Polish Market
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an analysis of the current challenges and threats to the Transport-Forwarding-Logistics (TFL) sector in Poland based on internet surveys.
Abstract: The main aim of the article is to present an analysis of the current challenges and threats to the Transport-Forwarding-Logistics (TFL) sector in Poland based on internet surveys. The aim of the article is, therefore, to investigate whether the challenges and threats described by managers in a two-year perspective are related to sustainable development. This area primarily concerns external conditions. On the other hand, in the surveys that were the subjects of the analyses, a section related to sustainable development in economic, environmental, and social terms was identified, in which the focus was primarily on the internal activities of the company. The article has a practical dimension. The article analyzes comments from managers posted in an internet survey. They constitute a separate part of the questionnaire, which mainly concerns financial indicators and other factors that determine the company’s competitiveness. Half of the respondents are companies with foreign capital, and half-Polish companies. Based on the comments over a three-year period with over sixty managers from logistics companies in Poland, an analysis of the most important challenges that companies in the logistics industry have to face in the near future was presented. The survey is a part of a broader research project that has been conducted in the form of a quantitative survey among approximately sixty TFL companies for twenty-five years on an annual basis. The results of the survey are supplemented with an attempt to analyze the current situation in 2020 related to the impending economic recession as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat. The surveyed companies constitute a significant part of the TFL market in Poland. Thus, they are the benchmark for the entire industry. Therefore, an important value of the presented analysis is the up-to-date research, as well as the ability to relate the results and developed scenarios to the entire TFL sector.
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identified the sources and kinds of disruptions observed in various maritime supply chains as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on the operations of various types of seaport terminals, namely those serving bulk (universal, specialised) and general cargoes.
Abstract: The world-wide crisis caused by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a significant impact on the global economy functioning and the sustainable development of supply chains. The changes also affected seaports being the key links of maritime supply chains. The purpose of the research study described in this article was to identify the sources and kinds of disruptions observed in various maritime supply chains as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on the operations of various types of seaport terminals, namely those serving bulk (universal, specialised) and general cargoes (universal, specialised). An additional purpose was to identify the dependencies between the type of terminal and its main function, and the tactical decisions adopted by the particular terminals. The research was carried out using the multiple-case study method. The study covered some selected port terminals functioning in Polish seaports (Gdansk, Szczecin, Świnoujście), applying direct, semi-structured in-depth interviews. The analysis of the results was carried out using the inductive reasoning method. The research study has shown that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic some maritime supply chains ceased to exist, some of them were operating with decreased cargo volumes, while in other cases the transshipment volumes actually rose during the pandemic. Among terminal operators’ tactical responses to disruptions in maritime supply chains, there were pro-active and adaptive measures. Pro-active (offensive) measures included actions taken by an enterprise in order to engage in new maritime supply chains, and even participating in establishing new maritime chains in response to limitations caused by the pandemic. Adaptive (defensive) measures covered actions taken by the port terminals as a consequence of changes in the existing maritime supply chains, caused by the pandemic in the port’s foreland or hinterland. The research study results revealed that the terminals extent of engagement and tactical decisions related to the pandemic were depended on the type of terminal (universal or specialised) and its main function played within a supply chain.
30 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors take into account infrastructure and electric vehicles used in road transport, taking into account the goal to achieve a 30% share of vehicle electric, the number of charging stations available in the entire European Union is not sufficient.
30 citations
06 Jul 2021
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors studied the transformation and sustainability of a UPT system in the large Russian city of Tyumen, under conditions affected by the negative impact of COVID-19 lockdown.
Abstract: Dialectics, or developmental transformation, would eventually cause any system to change. The level and depth of these changes vary and depend on the power of external influence and system reservation mechanisms. The art of managing system processes consists of two main aspects. The first aspect involves the sagacity of managers and predicting general environmental change trends (and their impacts on the managed system). The second involves adjusting to these trends, maximizing possible benefits, and minimizing the negative manifestations of this process. Innovation plays an important role, contributing to system transformations with maximal effect and minimal loss. Public transport systems are important elements in cities, as they provide spatial mobility for at least half of the citizens of a city who cannot use individual transportation. Modern urbanization and peculiarities of the social–economic statuses of many citizens contribute to the fact that organized public transportation is unprofitable. The low solvency of citizens who use public transportation services means that passenger transport systems do not work with enough profitability. As a result, governing institutions often choose to subsidize unprofitable transporter activities, thereby prolonging the functioning of unprofitable routes. This is possible only in conditions of sustainability (in regards to a non-optimal system), when the environment is calm, and its negative impact is low. “Black swans” (according to N. Taleb) are bifurcation factors that break the sustainability of non-optimal system. Urban public transport (UPT) of a large Russian city, Tyumen, experienced it in 2020, in connection with the COVID-19 lockdown. The sharp decrease in population mobility in Tyumen, in 2020–2021, caused the need for a complete transformation of the transport service system. However, managers did not want to fundamentally change a system that consensually suited most counterparties. The search for new balances in a system that demands transformation is one way for sustainable provision. This article looks at the transformation and sustainability of a UPT system in the large Russian city of Tyumen, under conditions affected by the negative impact of COVID-19. Results of a comparative (i.e., pre-crisis (2019) and crisis (2020)) Pareto analysis of the contributions of different UPT routes are presented. Transformation of the structure of the UPT route system can overcome the “crisis” COVID-19 period and minimize its financial-economic costs.
5 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the relationship between information systems and sustainable supply chain management and explain under what circumstances they could lead to competitive advantage or increase internal business performance, and reveal that the use of information systems, combined with strong interorganizational relationships and collaboration, can support SSCM practices.
Abstract: Sustainability, information systems (IS), and sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) are the main research areas of this study. In an era where environmental and social responsibility is becoming increasingly more important, SSCM is very significant for the survivability and competitiveness of organizations. Information systems may facilitate sustainable practices, as they support supply chain processes, decrease costs, and enable the control and monitoring of operations. The aim of this research is to explore the relationship between information systems and SSCM and explain under what circumstances they could lead to competitive advantage or increase internal business performance. To analyze the above, the methodology comprises a literature review enabling the understanding and conceptualization of the main research constructs and revealing the gaps of previous research. It also comprises qualitative research based on a single-case study allowing an in-depth examination of the subject of study. The findings reveal that the use of information systems, combined with strong interorganizational relationships and collaboration, can support SSCM practices. They can bring important business advantages, such as improved business performance and increased customer loyalty, but not necessarily competitive advantage. The results of this research show that SSCM is a promising field of study, with prospects for future research.
5 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors present the conclusions of the study of 46 entities on the Polish LSP market using an original, multi-faceted evaluation method and a collective ranking of LSPs has been prepared.
Abstract: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing war and the implementation of the so-called Mobility Package there are profound changes taking place in the Polish LSP sector. The competitive struggle on the market is intensifying, and it mobilizes the management to diagnose the condition of companies with the use of effective comparative tools. This article aims to present the conclusions of the study of 46 entities on the Polish LSP market. It uses an original, multi-faceted evaluation method. The authors hope to popularize this method for evaluating LSPs by making it cyclical. The comparative evaluation of LSPs was carried out with the use of economic (index) and statistical analysis tools. A model of rank correlation was used for the values of all variables (ten economic parameters and one greening parameter). LSPs were grouped up based on the average value of the economic variables and according to investment attractiveness and then clustered. Sets of the most correlated characteristics in the assessment of the LSPs were developed based on the k-means method and the Spearman coefficient. A collective ranking of LSPs has been prepared.
2 citations
References
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide a comprehensive review on LML models in the modern e-commerce context, and propose four future research areas reflecting likely digital supply chain evolutions.
Abstract: Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to re-examine the extant research on last-mile logistics (LML) models and consider LML’s diverse roots in city logistics, home delivery and business-to-consumer distribution, and more recent developments within the e-commerce digital supply chain context. The review offers a structured approach to what is currently a disparate and fractured field in logistics.
Design/methodology/approach
The systematic literature review examines the interface between e-commerce and LML. Following a protocol-driven methodology, combined with a “snowballing” technique, a total of 47 articles form the basis of the review.
Findings
The literature analysis conceptualises the relationship between a broad set of contingency variables and operational characteristics of LML configuration (push-centric, pull-centric, and hybrid system) via a set of structural variables, which are captured in the form of a design framework. The authors propose four future research areas reflecting likely digital supply chain evolutions.
Research limitations/implications
To circumvent subjective selection of articles for inclusion, all papers were assessed independently by two researchers and counterchecked with two independent logistics experts. Resulting classifications inform the development of future LML models.
Practical implications
The design framework of this study provides practitioners insights on key contingency and structural variables and their interrelationships, as well as viable configuration options within given boundary conditions. The reformulated knowledge allows these prescriptive models to inform practitioners in their design of last-mile distribution.
Social implications
Improved LML performance would have positive societal impacts in terms of service and resource efficiency.
Originality/value
This paper provides the first comprehensive review on LML models in the modern e-commerce context. It synthesises knowledge of LML models and provides insights on current trends and future research directions.
188 citations
TL;DR: A simple DDI strategy based on SMA for supply chains where information cannot be shared improves on NIS by reducing the Mean Square Error of the forecasts, and cutting inventory costs in the supply chain.
74 citations
TL;DR: The challenges posed by transitions in economic structures, urbanization, city design and transport systems, as well as by the increasing complexity of supply chains, logistics and freight have been facing increasingly complex challenges as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Supply chains, logistics and freight have been facing increasingly complex challenges posed by transitions in economic structures, urbanization, city design and transport systems, as well as by the...
72 citations
TL;DR: This work proposes an enhanced adaptive large neighborhood search algorithm for the investigated routing problem with multi-compartment vehicles which are to operate from a single depot to visit customers within the chosen time period by minimizing major operational costs.
45 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the linkage between regional institutions and global value chain participation in the One Belt and One Road (OBOR) initiative and found that institutions play important roles in GVC participation in both OBOR and non-OBOR countries.
34 citations