Social Network and Resources Integration Within Logistics Industry in China --- With Case Study of Cainiao Network

Abstract

The business network in logistics industry is essential for integrating resources and establish firms own advantage of compettitiveness in the market, as well as providing more comprehensive services that facilitate firms to gain its revenue. Construction of intermediary platforms has therefore been an effective mean. Cainiao, a subdivided branch of Chinese giant enterprise Alibaba, has seized this opportunity. Though the debate about how social networks function to boost the high-quality development of firms has been very hot over the last three decades, few studies have mentioned and worked to understand to the linkage between social network analysis (SNA) and logistics chain management. Hence, the purpose of this research is to identify the construction of a business network by the giant Chinese logistics companies and its enhancing function of collaboration among firms and embeddedness for the success of Cainiao, which constructs the whole network. This paper will be carried out in concept explaination of essential terms in SNA and the practice of them into operation of Cainiao Network, as well as some diagrams made by Ucinet software will be applied. Results of the study show that through the early alliance of giant express enterprises, Cainiao has gained a wide network map that permits it to utilize abundant resources for the firms prosperity, and boosts the conjunction between the other companies and customers.