Logistics Efficiency Evaluation and Empirical Research under the New Retailing Model: The Way toward Sustainable Development

Abstract

As an innovative retailing mode, “new retailing” is making the distinction between physical and virtual commerce obsolete, where offline stores attract customers and supply them with the opportunity of experiences, and online stores provide services for placing orders and transactions. However, many new retailing companies are beset by their logistics efficiency evaluations because evaluation indicators and methods differ significantly from those with traditional business patterns. In this way, considering the sustainable development principle, this study focuses on the approach of logistics efficiency evaluation and empirical analysis under the new retailing model, explores the main factors related to logistics efficiency improvement, and proposes corresponding measures to reinforce the core competence of companies. We first establish a novel logistics efficiency evaluation index system by word frequency and correlation analysis from a sustainable development view, including six first-level indicators and twenty-seven second-level indicators; then, the logistics efficiency evaluation framework is presented: the static evaluation is made using cross-efficiency DEA and IAHP entropy; the dynamic evaluation is performed using the Malmquist index. After that, a demonstrated analysis of logistics efficiency is conducted with 15 listed companies in China. Furthermore, efficiency-influencing factors are identified using Tobit regression, and countermeasures are proposed to promote the development of new retailing. Comparison results show that the proposed logistics efficiency evaluation framework can be scientific and reliable, helping managers to identify the weaknesses and influencing factors in enterprise logistics operations, therefore improving the performance and competitiveness of new retailing companies.