A pattern of collaborative logistics during multiple crises

Abstract

The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine War (multiple crises or catastrophes) affected the logistics sector in the world, especially in developing countries. Collaborative logistics is a strategy to mitigate the negative impacts of multiple crises. Thus, this study aims to uncover the impact of multiple crises on logistics collaboration in developing countries in the case of Indonesia and to disclose the collaboration patterns among logistics companies in the country. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 183 logistics professionals working in logistics companies in Indonesia from June to November 2023. Of the 183 respondents, 148 observations were used in the statistical analysis using the Partial-Least Square–Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) with Rstudio. This study had the following findings: First, the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021) promoted domestic and international collaborations. Second, the latter days of the COVID-19 pandemic (2022–2023) promote less intensive collaboration at domestic and international levels due to the termination of some restrictions to contain the COVID-19 spread and the relative resiliency of the logistics sector. Third, the negative impact of the Russia-Ukraine War drove logistics companies to collaborate intensively at the domestic and international levels. Fourth, companies’ responses to multiple crises demonstrate a fluctuating collaboration pattern, depending on the severity of the crisis. Thus, it is suggested that maintaining intensive logistics collaboration is a strategy to gain resilience from unintended events that negatively affect the supply chain. This study has an academic contribution to the logistics and supply chain field, emphasising collaboration during crises in developing countries.