How Do Regional Third-Party Logistics Firms Innovate? A Cross-Regional Study

摘要

Complexities of global trade, increased competition worldwide, and continued downward pressure on prices and margins are urging companies to develop better logistics systems in order to fulfill the need for a high service level at a lower cost (Sheffi 1990; Wilding and Juri-ado 2004; Lieb 2008). The use of third-party logistics (3PL) firms is a way to meet the challenges. Companies use 3PL firms for various reasons. Outsourcing non-strategic activities enables organizations to focus on core competencies and exploit external logistics expertise (Sink and Langley 1997). Firms can acquire the necessary resources, develop unique assets, and achieve superior logistics performance through 3PL relations (Sinkovics and Roath 2004).