ICT adoption in road freight transport in Nigeria – A case study of the petroleum downstream sector

Abiye Tob-Ogu,Niraj Kumar,John Cullen

doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2017.09.021

Abiye Tob-Ogu, Niraj Kumar + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2017.09.021

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Abstract

This paper advances the ICT adoption discourse to explore ICT mechanism use, adaptation and contextual influences on management strategies in Africa. A polar-type multiple case studies approach is used to guide empirical data collection across 10 individual cases. 21 interviews were conducted with top executives and these were corroborated with over 30h of non-participant observations and archival documentation from these cases. Using a tripartite coding frame, thematic and content analyses were performed to identify patterns and themes in the collected data. Findings of this study evidence ICT use at firm level with significant links to local contextual factors. Additionally, whilst affirming relationships between size and adoption, the findings also suggest an inverted parallel between both variables. The paper contributes by empirically highlighting the influence of contextual factors on ICT use in road freight transportation as well as highlighting the potential for ICT developers and OEMs to acquire innovative input from local adaptation practices within the industry.

Highlights

Information and communications technology (ICT) has been identified as a critical enabler of sustainable development (Kayisire and Wei, 2016)
We found evidence to support the use of ICT mechanisms to support road freight transport operations in the Nigerian petroleum downstream industry
We identified a range of ICT mechanisms used in road freight operations within the Nigerian petroleum downstream industry

Summary

Introduction

Information and communications technology (ICT) has been identified as a critical enabler of sustainable development (Kayisire and Wei, 2016). Internet of things (IoT), big data, radio frequency identification (RFID) and geographic information systems (GIS) are some examples of ICT tools that have been deployed to support sustainable development across a variety of contexts (Kyem, 2012; Koria et al, 2014; Wang et al, 2015). Authors have identified time saving efficiencies from the application of ICT (barcoding, decision support systems) to haulier operations, improving the overall experience of the service providers and users (Sternberg et al, 2014). Other studies have linked competitiveness (Davies et al, 2007), safety (Harris et al, 2015; Wang et al, 2015), and wellbeing (Button et al, 2001) to the use of ICT tools like GIS navigation and on-board computers (OBCs) to support transportation.

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