Transportation Outsourcing: A Survey Of Greek Practices

Abstract

Globalisation trends only exacerbate the need for high service levels and for timely and effective transportation system adjustments. Long supply lines, global manufacturing, and worldwide distribution systems mean that the expertise needed to support manufacturers in their bid to be world class players is considerable. Another important development that is impacting the logistics industry is the increased emphasis on time-based competition. Broadly, time-based competition refers to the speed with which the products can be manufactured, delivered to market and serviced. The ability to compete on time has become an important source to competitive advantage, especially so as companies achieve technological parity on the various aspects of product processing. Logistics increasingly is being recognised as a vital element of an organisation, with the logistics function becoming more complex and facing increased corporate demands. At the same time, fewer resources are available to logistics because of corporate goals regarding downsizing and short-term profit improvement. To achieve the corporate demands being placed on logistics with fewer resources available, outsourcing of logistics activities is being utilised.