An Assessment of Service Quality of Logistics Services Providers in Ghana (Published)
This study was aimed to assess service quality of logistics service providers (courier services) in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. The study was a cross sectional descriptive survey. The target population of the study was customers of the selected courier services providers. The study deployed stratified sampling technique and 120 sample size. The SERVQUAL Model was the underpinning philosophy adopted for the study. Structured questionnaire were used. Data were gathered through primary and secondary sources. The primary data were analyzed using Predictive Analytical Software (PASW) for windows. Secondary data were obtained from data bases including Pro-Quest, EBSCO, Open Access Directorate, Google Scholar, Cross- Ref and Index Copernicus. The results were presented using unweighted means, Chi-square Tests and frequencies. The study revealed that overall customers were satisfied with all the five service quality dimensions. Specifically respondents rated their satisfaction as follows: Assurance Empathy, Tangibility, Responsiveness and Reliability The study further revealed there is a significant association between customer’s location and satisfaction. Also, the study found that there is an association between customers preferred brand and satisfaction. Finally, there is significant association between customers perceived service safety and satisfaction. The study concluded that logistics service providers should aim at delighting their customers to ensure customer loyalty in order to prevent any switch in the future.
Keywords: Courier, Ghana, Logistics, SERVQUAL, service providers
Literature Review of the Environment Affecting Logistics Services and Supply Chain Management: A Case of Three Provinces in Vietnam (Published)
The objective of this article is to review the external-internal environment affecting logistics services and its implications and how logistics services influences supply chain management. The researchers surveyed 450 enterprise managers who are using the logistics services and answered 15 questions. The primary sources of data collected from December 2017 to May 2018 in Ho Chi Minh city, Dong Nai province and Ba Ria – Vung Tau province. Simple random sampling technique is from 450 enterprise managers related to logistics (each province is 150 samples). The data adapted questionnaire on a 5-point Likert scale: Conventions: 1: Completely disagree, 2: Disagree, 3: Normal; 4: Agree; 5: completely agree. Hard copy distributed among 12.000 enterprise managers. In addition, the results of the study have the external-internal factor of logistics services and supply chain management based on Mean value and Std. Deviation.
Keywords: Blockchain, LHU, Logistics, Supply chain management
The Researching of the Industry 4.0 Affecting the Efficiency of the Logistics Management in Vietnam (Published)
In Vietnam, the industrial revolution 4.0 (Industry 4.0) is on the onset and will affect all socio-economic sectors, while completely transforming the current production and management system. Industry 4.0 can give the Vietnamese economy a rare opportunity to break through and Vietnam is actively preparing for this opportunity, especially the logistics management. Besides, the growth of IT poses opportunities and challenges for logistics. As internet retailing increases, the companies are accepting orders from their clientele across the borders. The competences of staff and staff skills have been found to influence the efficiency of logistics performance in different industries. It is nowadays crucial to understand the importance of logistics both in the levels of the individual firm and the total economy. The study results had 200 the managers of enterprises who interviewed and answered about 13 questions. Data collected from July 2016 to December 2017 and analyzed KMO test, Cronbach’s Alpha and the result of KMO analysis which used for multiple regression analysis. Managers’ responses measured through an adapted questionnaire on a 5-point Likert scale. The results showed that there were three factors, which included of factors following human resource (HR), economic environment (EE), information technology (IT) with significance level 5 percent. In addition, all of three components affecting the efficiency of the logistics management with significance level 5 percent. The research results processed from SPSS 20.0 software.
Keywords: (IT), Industry 4.0, LHU, Logistics, Management
The Impact of Transportation Management System on Supply Chain Management: The Effectiveness of Chinese Online Shopping Delivery – The “Kuaidi” System (Published)
Transportation is not only a means of travel but is also a means of business growth. Transportation plays a very useful role in the development of the production sector in a country as well as the service provision so long as supply and demand are a concern. The aim of a customer is to have his or her goods delivered to him or her on time which intends provide the client satisfaction. Efficient Supply Chain Management design and efficiency in its management is the fundamental basis for the growth and the sustainability of the organization: the lesson from this study. However, one of the necessary logistics ineffective Supply Chain Management is the Transportation factor. The effectiveness of every Supply Chain is built around the carriage of the goods to the customer in time, and on time, just at the time, the customer needs them. Furthermore, it helps to meet the needs of the client as and when they need these services. Effectiveness in timely delivery of goods and services – meeting the customer just at the time of need – is one but thousand aim in supply chain design. Significantly, no manager can accomplish such effectiveness without first conquering efficient transportation. Considerably, the study looks briefly at the “kuaidi” system of online shopping in China – so to establish the relationship between transportation and efficient Supply Chain Management conclusively. The study is purely theoretical.
Keywords: Effectiveness, Logistics, Supply Chain Design, Supply China management, Transpiration
Employee Performance Measurement and Improvement System (Published)
Efficient logistics represents a crucial differentiating factor in the market. The distribution centre employee occupies a special role for reaching the goal of more efficient logistics. One approach is to increase the logistics performance by improving labour productivity due to increasing work motivation. The developed employee performance measurement and improvement system is a combination of a performance measurement, feedback and remuneration system. This system is based on the Productivity Measurement and Enhancement System but has more functionalities. The developed system provides a tailored solution to increase productivity. The modules of the system meet different must-have and nice-to-have requirements. The system is characterized by high flexibility, transparency, and comparability. At the same time, the acceptance by the employees is given by the participation approach. The benefit is a significant potential to increase work motivation
Keywords: Labour productivity, Logistics, performance measurement
Information Technology Capability, Adoption, Logistics Service Quality and the Performance of Third Party Logistics Providers (Published)
The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships between IT capability, IT adoption, logistics service quality and performance of third party logistics firms in Uganda. The study was prompted by the delays in customs clearance; bureaucratic systems and lengthy cargo forwarding processes largely of manual nature that are evident among the activities of the third party logistics providers in Uganda. This could be attributed to lack of IT capability, low IT adoption and poor logistics service quality. A cross sectional data was collected from a sample of 80 registered clearing and forwarding firms in Uganda selected from a population of 109 firms using a simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using a close ended questionnaire. The results indicate significant positive relationships between IT capability, IT adoption, logistics service quality and performance of third party logistics firms. Findings also revealed that IT adoption and logistics service quality are significant predictors of the performance of the third party logistics providers. However, IT capability was found not to be a significant predictor of performance of third party logistics providers. Findings further revealed that IT adoption was a better significant predictor of the performance of third party logistics providers than logistics service quality. The research recommends that clearing and forwarding firms in Uganda need to adopt IT quicker and increase logistics service quality in order to improve on the performances of their clearing and forwarding operations especially in the areas of documentation, cargo tracking, warehousing, and shipment operations.
Keywords: IT Adoption, IT Capability, Information Technology (IT), Logistics, Service Quality, Uganda
Assessing the Impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) On the Performance of Freight Distribution (Published)
The application and development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have already had significant effects on many industries, especially in the field of freight distribution. This paper examines the impact of ICT on the performance of freight distribution in terms of supply chain, logistics and fleet management. A survey was conducted to 77 ICT users from 22 companies consisting of 6 manufacturers, 5 third part logistics, 4 freight forwarders, 5 warehouse operators, 8 wholesalers and retailers. A descriptive statistical analysis was used to analysis the data obtained. One of the major findings of the research is the impact level of ICT use by Freight industries in Lagos and Ogun State which falls into moderate impact on their performance as majority of them only use the low technology for information gathering. It was discovered that the major barrier to use of ICT is the acquisition cost. Government needs to promote a sharing of knowledge about the use and the role of ICT in logistics with logistics firms by facilitating a demonstration of technology solution and expand innovative public and private financing methods in generating finance and building skills for the development of ICT capacity
Keywords: 3PLs, 4PL, Freight, Globalization, ICT, Internet, Logistics, infomediary
Assessing the Impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) On the Performance of Freight Distribution (Published)
The application and development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have already had significant effects on many industries, especially in the field of freight distribution. This paper examines the impact of ICT on the performance of freight distribution in terms of supply chain, logistics and fleet management. A survey was conducted to 77 ICT users from 22 companies consisting of 6 manufacturers, 5 third part logistics, 4 freight forwarders, 5 warehouse operators, 8 wholesalers and retailers. A descriptive statistical analysis was used to analysis the data obtained. One of the major findings of the research is the impact level of ICT use by Freight industries in Lagos and Ogun State which falls into moderate impact on their performance as majority of them only use the low technology for information gathering. It was discovered that the major barrier to use of ICT is the acquisition cost. Government needs to promote a sharing of knowledge about the use and the role of ICT in logistics with logistics firms by facilitating a demonstration of technology solution and expand innovative public and private financing methods in generating finance and building skills for the development of ICT capacity
Keywords: 3PLs, 4PL, Freight, Globalization, ICT, Internet, Logistics, infomediary