In an increasingly dynamic and uncertain environment, logistics management has become a key strategic component for organizations to maintain a competitive edge. While digital platforms have improved visibility, coordination, and efficiency in logistics, existing research often examines these benefits in isolation, lacking a comprehensive understanding of their impact on all stakeholders. The paper addresses this gap by delving into the question of how a digital B2B platform transform logistics management in manufacturing firms taking a multi-stakeholder perspective.
The study focuses on RoaDo, a B2B digital logistics management platform in India, to explore the research question. The authors conducted in-depth interviews with multiple stakeholders including transporters, personnel of manufacturing organizations with transportation requirements and key employees of the RoaDo platform. They leveraged reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) to identify patterns in stakeholder experiences with digital B2B platforms in logistics management guided by the value architecture framework of digital platforms.
The findings of the study reveal that digital B2B platforms enhance logistics management through three core utilities: discovery, matching and transaction. Each of these three core utilities enable stakeholders to create, deliver and capture value across the logistics management process.
The study contributes to the logistics management literature by providing a comprehensive understanding of how digital B2B platforms add value across all the activities of logistics management, and to all the stakeholders involved in the process. The study also offers a process perspective of how digital platform architecture transforms organizations and their ecosystems.
The study's findings offer valuable insights for the logistics industry, showcasing how they can leverage digital B2B platforms to enhance logistics management, improve efficiency, and gain a competitive advantage. It also provides a blueprint for adopting digital platforms, helping manufacturers and distributors overcome logistical challenges such as sourcing logistics partners, tracking shipments, and managing post-delivery processes, resulting in better turnaround times and improved transparency.
Authors’ Names: Rashi Agarwala, Krishna Satyanarayana, R Srinivasan, Deepak Chandrashekar
Journal Name: Technovation (IIMB B2)
URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166497224002189?via%3Dihub