University of Twente Student Theses
Applications within Logistics 4.0 : A research conducted on the visions of 3PL service providers
Horenberg, Daan (2017) Applications within Logistics 4.0 : A research conducted on the visions of 3PL service providers.
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| Abstract: | This study examined which Industrie 4.0 applications are implemented by Third-party Logistics (3PL) providers, in order to improve their value adding services of Warehousing, Transportation, Packaging, Distribution, Loading/unloading and Information services. The fourth industrial revolution with its characteristic elements of Big data, Sensors, the Internet of Things, Cyber-Physical Systems and Machine to machine communication has caused a paradigm shift within the Logistics industry. In this rapidly changing environment, organisations tend to be indecisive on what pathways to follow. To guide these organisations in their decision making, this study was drawn up and answered the question: “What different Logistics 4.0 applications are used in current and future 3PL business activities and what functions are covered?” At the heart of this research lie four emerging technological developments: Blockchain technology, Autonomous Vehicles, Electronic marketplace platforms and 3D Printing. In order to find how these technologies are put into practice and to provide an answer to the research question, a semi structured in-depth interview was conducted with DB Schenker. The study was further complimented with a secondary research on the companies DHL, Kuehne+Nagel, and Panalpina. Outcomes of the research let to five fields in which the four researched 3PL organisations are actively implementing applications. These fields are defined as: Freight brokerage trends enabled by electronic marketplace platforms, Nearshoring and changing production processes due to 3D Printing, Transportation efficiencies through truck platooning and drones, Warehousing and distribution operations due to autonomous vehicles and robots, and the safe and trustful sharing of information throughout all processes due to Blockchain technology. The synergy between these fields leads to large opportunities within the logistics industry and their implementation will mean a large step towards Logistics 4.0. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 85 business administration, organizational science |
| Programme: | International Business Administration BSc (50952) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/72668 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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