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The purpose of this study is to develop a framework for a freight consolidation company to adopt blockchain for the shipping community. Our research critically examine the challenges faced by a global shipping company that offer freight consolidation businesses and explore the use of Blockchain technology to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of freight booking operations.

This paper is a case study, ECU Worldwide, with focus on transforming their operations using blockchain technology for the freight booking industry. As the case is explorative in nature, the research aim to unearth the complex blockchain adoption phenomenon in the industry as the technology is very nascent at present. The research is primarily grounded on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) theory.

The research finds that blockchain technology supports solving many issues and inefficiencies of global shipping operations but there are some barriers that they need to overcome. The research provides a framework and recommendations for global company to consider when considering Blockchain technology for implementation. Our research finding shows that smart contracts can be set up at critical points along with the shipment route namely the storage, customs, carrier, transporters and consignee stage to ensure greater security and transparency.

The research provides recommendations to key stakeholders involved in freight forwarding segment of logistics industry while adopting blockchain technology. Apart from the methodological limitation of the research, the research is limited to Singapore in terms of geographical coverage.

The drivers and barriers identified in the study can give practitioners insight of using blockchain for the industry. The proposed framework can assist companies in the shipping industry to prepare themselves to adopt blockchain for the community.

This case study is the first of its kind to examine the use of blockchain to explore the adoption in logistics Industry in Singapore and perhaps worldwide.

In recent years, technology diffusion, globalization and the Internet revolution have accelerated the growth of online transactions and altered corporate operations systems. The emergence of computer technology and the Internet have changed the way businesses work. The purpose of this study is to find and identify any common patterns in the logistics and supply chain industries for job requirements using job posting content in Malaysia.

This study provides an exploratory assessment of the employability skill set required using online job posting advertisements. Online job posting advertising, also known as e-recruiting, is one field that has been significantly influenced by information technology. In addition, the current Covid-19 outbreak has created a new need for a long-term contactless talent acquisition process in the organization's operating systems.

Based on this study's findings, the top ten skills required by employers for logistics and supply chain positions are (1) supply chain analytics, (2) technological aptitude, (3) teamwork skills, (4) customer focus, (5) leadership skills, (6) interpersonal skills, (7) people skills, (8) creativity and resilience, (9) demand and supply forecasting ability, and (10) project management skills. Overall, the findings provide a road map for practitioners and academics interested in developing supply chain managers' necessary skills and competencies to manage current and future supply networks. It also allows companies to adjust their supply chain management hiring, training and retention methods.

Although the study was done in Malaysia, the supply chain skills and competencies stated in this study, as well as their categorization, can be applied in other developing countries.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the obstacles that impede cold chain implementation in developing countries.

A grounded theory methodology was employed to execute this research. Eight semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with senior managers in Vietnam. In addition, consistent with grounded theory guidelines, the authors utilized archival data to facilitate theory development.

The results of the analysis revealed a total of ten key obstacles: deficient professional skills, lack of quality and safety-control measures, high concentration of intermediaries, poor infrastructure, lack of information systems, high cost of installation and operation, inadequate education and training at farmer level, deficiency of standardization, lack of government support for local businesses and social norms.

Although many authors have recognized the enormity of food wastage and limited employment of cold chain in developing countries compared to developed countries, few efforts have been made to explore the reasons for the limited use of cold chains in developing countries. There are several noteworthy theoretical and managerial contributions that emerged from addressing this gap.

The use of information technology (IT) in the logistics area is growing all over the world and so is the number of third party logistics providers. In this article a specific case of interrelation between the uses of IT at the third party logistics service providers (3PLs) in Singapore is highlighted. Information collected through a randomly selected sample of 3PLs indicates that more and more service providers are either planning to incorporate IT in their operations or are benefiting from their use. Towards this end, the providers are acquiring new knowledge, skills and technologies. The survey results showed that respondents are also concerned about their investments in IT as they feel that with rapidly changing technology, their equipment, skill and processes could become obsolete before any tangible benefits could be derived from them. The providers indicate that financial justification is another key barrier to full‐scale IT implementation. These constraints hinder the implementation of strategic IT projects, which require significant investments. Therefore, a package program for skill development and equipment incentive could be initiated for 3PLs in Singapore.

Demand for retail transportation is typically volatile, and it is driven by the end of period (month) spiky deliveries. This is especially the case in emerging markets. The purpose of this paper is to examine situation in one of the leading Vietnamese logistics service company with numerous customers within the area of Ho Chi Minh City.

Research work is based on a case study within a company called Gemadept, who is providing logistics services in Vietnam. Researchers were given access to the company data on distribution system, and the authors had collected daily data from transportation operations.

Considerable truck utilization can be achieved even with volatile retail demand environment if optimization is applied to allocate trucks and drivers on certain routes and customer demand points. Relaxing service level of customers shall improve situation further, but not significantly. However, from logistics service point of view, it would be best to use numerous shifts per day (night shift option) to distribute products – this would enable high utilization of distribution fleet while overcoming spiky demand.

Analyses are dependent on a single case study of one logistics service provider in Vietnam. While this may limit the findings to some extent, but with rich case data and observations within the company distribution system, it provides the required depth to build an optimized model for the company.

In volatile demand environment, it is important to allocate trucks and drivers as well as work schedule in a systematic order, and not based on trial-and-error human intervened timetable. System perspective also enables evaluation of different strategies and their implications on performance.

Research work represents one of the seminal studies of Vietnamese retail logistics sector, and verifies that demand uncertainty is high in such environment in addition to exhibiting the end of period demand spikes (hockey stick effect).

A study was conducted on a leading US‐based computer maker to examine its reverse logistics operations in the Asia‐Pacific region. This US company had set up a spare parts business unit in Singapore to take care of the Asia‐Pacific customers for its products, which were still under warranty or service contracts. Defective parts were sent to its US headquarters for refurbishment and repair, and subsequently return to the Asia‐Pacific region. The study revealed a number of interesting findings. These included: about 50 percent of the products returned to the USA cost less than half the reverse logistics costs; the current information technology systems supporting the reverse logistics operations are not used in assisting the company’s managers in making critical decisions but in data collection; and decision making on reverse logistics at each of the company’s Asia‐Pacific offices was inconsistent and lacked standardization. Recommendations were subsequently made to overcome some of the inefficiencies in managing the reverse supply chain.

This paper seeks to present a decision‐making model for manufacturers to maximize their profits in reverse logistics operations.

A system dynamic model has been developed to complement with prior models and is validated using data collected from a computer company manufacturer handling returns with volumes transacted over a period of two years.

The results from the model indicate that part replacements from suppliers are more profitable than refurbished computer parts. In addition, transportation delay and supplier delay in processing returns have a significant impact on the viability of reverse logistics regardless of return volumes.

The current model is not designed for third‐party logistics (3PL) offering reverse logistics services. However, this can be accomplished by resetting some of the parameters in the model. The other limitations are exchange rate fluctuation and product depreciation which are not incorporated in the model. This is important in Asia where each country has its own currency which fluctuates with time.

This dynamic model will assist decision‐makers to test new policies related to reverse logistics, for example, liberal versus conservative return policy from supplier, shipment consolidation (longer delays) versus direct shipment, batch (longer delays) versus JIT remanufacturing, pricing of new parts versus re‐condition parts, as well as to examine its long‐term viability.

Using system dynamics to understand the profitability of reverse logistics for both replacement parts to suppliers and refurbished parts to manufacturers.

The purpose of this paper is to study the process, network, skills and practices of service parts logistics organizations in the Asia Pacific region. Specifically, it attempts to propose a new framework for service parts logistics management based on interview inputs from several leading automotive and aerospace companies. This paper also seeks to identify the trends and opportunities for service parts logistics in Singapore.

Companies from aerospace and automotive industries involved in service logistics activities were involved in the study. Data were obtained primarily through interviews with key executives of the company.

This paper summarizes some of the industry findings on service parts logistics in the Asia Pacific region. To succeed in the service logistics business, companies should not focus on cost factors alone. Instead, companies should adopt the proposed framework and look into other factors.

The research is limited to companies in the aerospace and automotive industries only.

This framework was drawn from industry inputs and can be easily applied in decision making.

The paper provides a new framework to assist decision makers in deciding where a company should locate its service part logistics hub.

The purpose of this paper is to identify global trends in the third-party logistics (3PL) industry, and with that to find out where the opportunities and challenges lie, what the critical success factors are, and how companies can position themselves well in China. As there is currently very limited knowledge about the 3PL industry in China, this study also intends to shed light in this area.

The study is conducted through focus group interviews with senior executives of leading 3PL companies in China followed by a survey with 70 logistics companies.

The key strengths of the logistics industry in China include numerous factors such as good connectivity and new infrastructure, while its main weaknesses are a shortage of qualified staff and slow adoption of technologies. There are a number of concerns and issues raised, such as lack of qualified staff, oversupply of warehousing space in China, competition from the influx of foreign 3PL companies to China, and regulations on free trade zones, seaports and airports, all of which may have policy implications.

As most of the logistics companies in the study are located and dominating in the Eastern and Southern China, it may be useful to conduct similar study in the new emerging western and central regions of China for comparison.

Managers and investors will appreciate the challenges and opportunities in logistics services in China and have a better insight into Chinese logistics development.

While China has been viewed as a cost effective place for manufacturing, the logistical costs in China are still very high as compared to other developed countries. This research will highlight the key reasons for the high logistical cost in China.