Logistics, Volume 4, Issue 2 (June 2020) – 7 articles

Last mile handover is the most problematic phase in the delivery process, while real-time communication and dynamic scheduling are major problem areas associated with attended last mile handovers. These problem areas need to be addressed holistically to facilitate efficient last mile handovers. The aim of this paper is to report the design and functionalities of a decision-support system which holistically addresses these problem areas. The functionalities of decision-support system which addresses dynamic scheduling and real-time communication problem areas are discussed using case studies. We conclude that a holistic decision-support system with multiparty communication among the stakeholders facilitates improving customer satisfaction, business opportunities and reducing operational costs for logistics companies. Full article

The purpose of this article is to present a framework for capturing and analyzing social media posts using a sentiment analysis tool to determine the views of the general public towards autonomous mobility. The paper presents the systems used and the results of this analysis, which was performed on social media posts from Twitter and Reddit. To achieve this, a specialized lexicon of terms was used to query social media content from the dedicated application programming interfaces (APIs) that the aforementioned social media platforms provide. The captured posts were then analyzed using a sentiment analysis framework, developed using state-of-the-art deep machine learning (ML) models. This framework provides labeling for the captured posts based on their content (i.e., classifies them as positive or negative opinions). The results of this classification were used to identify fears and autonomous mobility aspects that affect negative opinions. This method can provide a more realistic view of the general public’s perception of automated mobility, as it has the ability to analyze thousands of opinions and encapsulate the users’ opinion in a semi-automated way. Full article

Reverse logistics (RL) has emerged as a form of disposal and a conscious way to use products at the end of their use through the refurbishment, reuse, and recycling processes. Mainly in developing countries, there are still several barriers during the process of implementing reverse logistics, so decision-makers need to know what barriers to prioritize to propose a solution. This paper aims to investigate which multicriteria decision aid (MCDA) methods are most applied in the studies on barriers during the implementation of reverse logistics. For this purpose, we conducted a systematic literature review using a well-known and detailed protocol, considering various papers published in journals from the databases Science Direct, Emerald, Web of Science, and Google Scholar in the period from 2008 to 2019. As a result, a few studies discussing multicriteria methods were identified, analyzing the existing barriers to the implementation of reverse logistics. The main methods and criteria were gathered from the literature and were systematized and discussed to identify a research agenda. This paper contributes to the work carried out by researchers and practitioners in this field and can guide them in their choice of methods to approach decision-making related to reverse logistics. Full article

For years, the freight forwarding industry has been facing high levels of global competition. Accelerating this development, new and digital competitors are entering the market, striving to make freight logistics even faster, cheaper, and more predictable. Digitalization processes change traditional logistics businesses, leading to more efficient, flexible, and de-centrally organized logistics services. Sea freight operations, in particular, have the potential to better fulfill customer-specific requirements in competitive and complex environments by integrating digital technologies. Therefore, it is essential to understand how automating informational processes, such as freight brokering, affect business models in the logistics service industry. The present study qualitatively analyzed the case of FreightHub, a fourth-party logistics (4PL) sea freight agency, and compared its business model with traditional third-party logistics (3PL) business models. Applying a digital business model conceptualization, the present paper presents an extended framework for digital sea freight business models. In this line, the study contributes to theory and practice by refining business model research in the maritime transportation context, and providing managerial implications about the opportunities and threats of a digital transition in this industry. Full article

Nowadays, the denomination of “smart” is associated with several production and management devices and to logistics and distribution, too. Thus, this qualification is used in different application fields. All of them are different and diverse, but the most important common characteristics of these devices or Smart Systems are based on their novel and more efficient way of working. The smart trend is consolidated in the port environment, too. The ports’ need to become more intelligent is modifying their own operations. Therefore, this paper includes an analysis of Spanish Port System, in order to evaluate its ports, considering the new concept called “Smart Port”. Some indicators and measure variables are defined, to allow for quantifying technical items. These items—both quantitative and qualitative ones—which reflect, in the most objective and complete way possible, the adaptation and achievement of characteristics and objectives associated with the Smart Port concept in all ports were studied, in order to obtain an index of Smart Ports that allows us to calculate the ranking of the Spanish Smart Ports. Considering the analysis of the Smart Port concept and its current and future trends, it has been determined that the development of a port must be based on the digitalization, on use of ICT and on automation of port processes. Full article

Arising from the menace of city logistics problems in Lagos State with reference, in particular, to the Apapa and Tin Can Island seaport axis, the federal and state governments, in collaboration with private investors, seek to establish and/or develop some potential seaports to ease the burden of maritime logistics. Therefore, the objectives of this paper are to examine the prospects and challenges of the development of these proposed seaports and to analyze the efficiencies of the two selected seaports in order to determine the need for the required investment in seaport development. Descriptive analysis was used to examine the challenges of the selected seaports, while stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) was used to determine the efficiency of the selected seaports. The responses of the stakeholders and shipping companies to the various challenges were collected through a well-structured questionnaire, and the 2008–2017 cargo throughputs of the selected seaports were used as the secondary data for stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). It was discovered that the challenges associated with the Calabar Seaport were the draught level, cost of shipment, accessibility to industries, and condition of other modes of transport. From the stochastic frontier, the Lagos Apapa seaport is quite efficient, with an efficiency value of 0.9764921, while Calabar is slightly above average, with a mean efficiency value of 0.6086686. By implication, the congestion in the seaports in the Lagos seaport complex with the maximum level of efficiency creates the need for another seaport, which must be sited at a well-vetted location. In the case of the Calabar seaport, the efficiency level shows that the seaport is yet to be fully utilized. Hence, investment decisions regarding whether to build a new seaport or use dredging to upgrade the existing ones must be carefully analyzed, as the establishment of the proposed Ibom deep seaport may further affect the efficiency of the Calabar seaport(s). In conclusion, demand should be the driving force for port establishment: when a port cannot generate enough traffic, it may not yield returns on investment as expected. Full article

Product returns are a source of valuable information that can be used by firms and supply chains to improve products, services, and decision making. However, firms are struggling to maximize the value of this information, and the extant scholarly literature is scattered among various research streams. Using a systematic literature review, the state-of-the-art of product returns informational value research and limitations in the current body of work were examined and future directions for research suggested. Three types of informational value were identified, namely operational information, product related information, and customer-related information, along with four value-creating factors, namely strategic information system (IS) decisions, organizational learning, information sharing, and technological solutions. Implications for practitioners are discussed. Lastly, the limitations are discussed, along with recommendations and directions for future research work. Full article