Third-party Logistics Enterprises Research Articles

Dynamic Evolution of Repeated Pledge in FTW from the Perspective of Blockchain Empowerment

Due to information asymmetry, finance, transportation and warehouse financing gives rise to the issue of repeated pledge, which amplifies the risk of the loan business of financial institutions. In tandem with advancements in fintech, blockchain technology plays a significant role in the supply chain finance realm, primarily because of its core characteristics of being difficult to tamper with and decentralized. Therefore, this study constructed an evolutionary game model involving financial institutions, small- and medium-sized enterprises, and third-party logistics enterprises under a blockchain-enabled model and scrutinized the repeated pledge of financing entities in the finance, transportation and warehouse financing sector from the perspective of blockchain empowerment. The results show that the platform access fee being lower than the cost of conducting a financing business and the immutable characteristics of blockchain are important reasons to promote financial institutions to choose access to blockchain. The permanent retention of performance records owing to immutable performance under the blockchain model intensifies the consequences of dishonest behavior of small- and medium-sized enterprises and third-party logistics enterprises, thus encouraging the adoption of positive financing strategies. Additionally, the additional income obtained by third-party logistics enterprises’ covering behavior surpasses the additional income obtained by the repeated pledge behavior of small- and medium-sized enterprises, which will dismantle collusion between them. This study serves as a valuable reference for decision makers in the development of supply chain finance empowered by fintech.

Research on the Business Model of China's Third- Party Logistics Enterprises

With the development of the times and the rapid development of modern information technology, the logistics industry has risen rapidly. Especially in developed countries, modern logistics has become one of the emerging pillar industries. With the rise of the logistics industry, the role of third-party logistics has received more and more attention. Although the concept of third-party logistics has been put forward for only a few decades, it has rapidly become the main body of the logistics market, especially in the era of pursuing efficiency. Relevant survey data shows that 57% of the logistics volume in the United States is completed through third-party logistics, while in Japan, which has the best development in social distribution, the proportion of third-party logistics in the market is as high as 80%.This paper will study the business model of third-party logistics enterprises, and summarize the advantages and disadvantages of the existing third-party logistics enterprise business model, to develop strengths and circumvent weaknesses, and achieve improvement.

Financial and Logistical Service Strategy of Third-Party Logistics Enterprises in Cross-Border E-Commerce Environment

As competition in the cross-border logistics-service market intensifies and demand rises, enterprises with third-party logistics (3PL) combine logistical and financial services to provide comprehensive services. This study considers a secondary supply chain consisting of a cross-border e-commerce enterprise and a 3PL enterprise. When cross-border e-commerce enterprises lack funds, 3PL enterprises can provide them with inventory pledge loans. Thus, we establish a Stackelberg game model between the abovementioned parties. We consider the stochastic fluctuation of exchange rate and demand, establish a combined decision model of the logistics-service level and financial service pledge rate of the 3PL enterprise when logistics services affect offshore market demand, and prove the existence of an optimal solution. Studies have shown that the optimal logistics-service level and pledge rate increase with an increase in import tariffs and logistics sensitivity coefficients in offshore markets. Meanwhile, they decrease with an increase in the capability coefficient of 3PL enterprises, exchange rate fluctuation, default rate, and price sensitivity factor in offshore markets. In addition, the more capable 3PL enterprises are, the greater the expected profitability of the entire supply chain. We also utilize authentic data to verify the abovementioned inference and establish its validity.

Route Optimization for E-Commerce Logistic Systems

E-Commerce Business is widely spread all around the world, and explored by almost half the population of the world, because of its facility that it provides doorstep delivery. You just need to place the order on e-commerce website and within Two to three days max the order gets delivered at your doorstep. But it’s a challenge for e-commerce logistic department (ECL) to manage this order and delivery chain. They need to have a predefined strong network of order and delivery chain. While delivering the small parcels e-commerce department considers delivery assistant/ Boy to deliver these parcels. For a Single Delivery assistant it’s very hard and headache job to deliver packages accordingly. Here the problem arrives of last mile distribution, completing target deliveries before deadline. This project aims to solve the last-mile distribution of e-commerce logistics (ECL) for the survival of third-party logistics enterprise. Delivery assistant have software which navigates them towards the delivery address. But this creates headache and waste of time while delivering parcels one by one separately without having an optimized route which connects all the target parcels to be delivered in a day. Route Optimization software needs to develop to solve these problems. This project aims to develop an optimized solution on above problems based on multiple source multiple destination approach using Dijkstra’s algorithm and scripted using python libraries. On this basis, the improved Dijkstra was proved effective through example analysis on the said test data sets. The analysis results also reflect how the number of vehicles affects the maximum profit of the logistics enterprise and the coverage of the ECL logistics network.

Business Model of Supply Chain Finance

Supply chain finance is a new type of financial product designed by commercial banks to provide financial aid for the weak medium and small-sized enterprises in the supply chain. It can effectively eliminate the obstacles of information asymmetry between banks and enterprises, but also effectively solve the problem faced by the medium and small-sized enterprises in getting bank credit loan due to insufficient mortgage, as well help them to improve the core competitiveness of commercial banks, eventually bring new profit growth for commercial banks and the third-party logistics enterprises. This paper, introduces some different financial models of supply chain finance, for medium and small-sized enterprises which can be considered, adopted or used according to their own situation.

Route Optimization for E-Commerce Logistics Systems

This paper aims to solve the last-mile distribution of rural e-commerce logistics (RECL) for the survival of third-party logistics enterprise. Considering the features of the RECL (long transport chain and low consumption density), A route optimization model is constructed for RECL's last-mile distribution to maximize the profit of the logistics enterprise, which is subsidized by the government. To solve the model, the ant colony optimization (ACO) was improved to suit the RECL's last-mile distribution by modifying the heuristic information, the update rule of pheromone, and the solution construction. Next, the optimal combinations of the default parameters in the improved ACO were determined through Matlab tests on test datasets in different sizes. The other parameters were configured according to the scale of the RECL. On this basis, the improved ACO was proved effective through example analysis on the said test datasets. The analysis results also react how the number of vehicles affects the maximum profit of the logistics enterprise and the coverage of the RECL logistics network.

Complex event detection for commodity distribution Internet of Things model incorporating radio frequency identification and Wireless Sensor Network

This paper discusses the key technologies for the fusion of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and wireless sensor networks through a fusion approach; meanwhile, it addresses the problem of energy imbalance infusion networks. This paper introduces the network energy consumption calculation methods under direct transmission and minimum energy multi-hop routing protocols, and designs an improved network structure model to improve the communication scale. The RFID reading and writing system based on Zig Bee technology is developed, and focuses on the hardware interface circuit design of the fusion system, the development of compatible communication protocols, the anti-collision algorithm, and the transmission performance of the system under two outdoor environments. The design of the environmental collection terminal uses relevant sensors to collect the transport environment data in the carriage. And Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) combined with General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology realizes the function of the main aggregation node of wireless sensors. The method achieves data aggregation and data transmission, and the development of the application platform of the monitoring system uses software technology. Based on the browser/server (B/S) architecture, the development of the monitoring system is finally realized. Finally, the cold chain transportation simulation experiment was conducted to test the system, and the results showed that the hardware of the cold chain coordination monitoring system can work normally and the software design of the monitoring system can meet the basic requirements of the system for the third-party logistics enterprises. The efficiency of our results is improved by about 10% compared to other studies, and their accuracy is improved to a higher degree, which makes our model more practical.

The Application of Artificial Intelligence-based IoT Technology in Regional Economic Statistics

Informatization is the only way for the third-party logistics enterprises to achieve leapfrog development, which is also the key to the development of modern logistics. However, the Internet of things ( hereinafter referred to as IOT) is the extension and development of information technology. Therefore, IOT will be introduced into the third-party logistics enterprises, which is also an important direction of regional economic development in the future. The huge potential market of IOT can better promote the development of regional economy. As an information technology means, IOT can effectively integrate many industries, which will improve the growth of green economy. Through artificial intelligence, IOT technology can play an important role in regional economic statistics. This paper first analyzes the influencing factors of the statistical data collection of IOT. Then, this paper puts forward the application of IOT technology in regional economic development.

Route Optimization for Last-Mile Distribution of Rural E-Commerce Logistics Based on Ant Colony Optimization

This paper aims to solve the last-mile distribution of rural e-commerce logistics (RECL) for the survival of third-party logistics enterprise. Considering the features of the RECL (long transport chain and low consumption density), A route optimization model is constructed for RECL’s last-mile distribution to maximize the profit of the logistics enterprise, which is subsidized by the government. To solve the model, the ant colony optimization (ACO) was improved to suit the RECL’s last-mile distribution by modifying the heuristic information, the update rule of pheromone, and the solution construction. Next, the optimal combinations of the default parameters in the improved ACO were determined through Matlab tests on five test datasets in different sizes. The other parameters were configured according to the scale of the RECL. On this basis, the improved ACO was proved effective through example analysis on the said test datasets. The analysis results also reflect how the number of vehicles affects the maximum profit of the logistics enterprise and the coverage of the RECL logistics network.

Optimal operational strategies of capital-constrained supply chain with logistics service and price dependent demand under 3PL financing service

In a supply chain finance (SCF) system composed of a manufacturer, a retailer and a third-party logistics (3PL) enterprise, the market demand is dependent on the logistics service level and the retail price. This paper investigates the optimal operational strategies for the SCF system with the 3PL financing service when the retailer or the manufacturer is stuck with capital constraint, respectively. By constructing and solving Stackelberg game models, we obtain the optimal operational strategies of the above two scenarios, and combined with the sensitivity analysis of relevant parameters, we obtain the following conclusions. (1) For the SCF system with a capital-constrained retailer, except the manufacturer’s optimal wholesale price remains unchanged, other participants’ optimal decisions and the optimal profits of each participant increase with the logistics service sensitivity coefficient; except the manufacturer’s optimal wholesale price remains unchanged, other participants’ optimal decisions and the optimal profits of each participant decrease with the logistics service cost efficiency. (2) For the SCF system with a capital-constrained manufacturer, the optimal decisions and profits of supply chain participants increase with the logistics service sensitivity coefficient; the optimal decisions and profits of supply chain participants decrease with the logistics service cost efficiency. Our analysis suggests that the retailer and manufacturer must take into account 3PL enterprise’s decisions (logistics service level and logistics service price) under the 3PL financing service mode before making decisions.

An Empirical Study on the Influence of the Supply Chain Building Capacity of Third-Party Logistics Enterprises in China on the Enterprise Performance

An Empirical Study on the Influence of the Supply Chain Building Capacity of Third-Party Logistics Enterprises in China on the Enterprise Performance

Replenishment decision and coordination contract in cluster supply chain

Purpose The cluster supply chain is widely used in the professional towns in China, and improves the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises through integrating the supply chain with the industrial cluster. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach This paper studies a cluster supply chain under vendor managed inventory (VMI) system, which includes vendors, third-party logistics (TPL) enterprises and retail enterprises, and aims to study the replenishment decisions and coordination contracts in the supply chain. The economic order quantity model is applied to analyze the influence of marginal transportation cost factor under two replenishment modes – direct delivery and milk-run delivery, in order to find out the optimal replenishment decisions corresponding to different marginal transportation cost factors. And then, the revenue sharing contract is used to identify the change of profits of enterprises in the supply chain before and after the coordination contract. Findings It is concluded that the marginal transportation cost factor is an important factor influencing the replenishment decision especially in milk-run delivery, and the introduction of the revenue sharing contract can improve the revenue in the supply chain. Originality/value This is the first study that explores the relationship between a single transport cost and a single transport batch of cluster supply chain in centralized VMI & TPL system. The conclusions of the study have certain theoretical significance for the decision making and coordination of cluster supply chain.

Evolution model and simulation of logistics outsourcing for manufacturing enterprises based on multi-agent modeling

The outsourcing of manufacturing enterprises can effectively enhance core competitiveness and respond to market quickly with the help of third-party logistics enterprises. Based on the theory of evolutionary game theory, this paper establishes the payment matrix of logistics outsourcing cooperation between manufacturing enterprises and third-party logistics enterprises, and then makes dynamic analysis of outsourcing to obtain the evolutionary stability strategy. Using multi-agent establishes simulation model on NetLogo simulation platform and combining reality of reality into the numerical simulation analysis. Combination of theory and Practice analyze logistics outsourcing of manufacturing enterprise. Finally, according to the model simulation results, manufacturing enterprises and third-party logistics enterprises are proposed to improve measures to promote the joint development of manufacturing enterprises and third-party logistics enterprises.

Customer Satisfaction of the Third-Party Logistics Enterprise Based on AHP

This article reports on results of a study on a freight forwarding enterprise engaged in third-party logistics services. The first phase involved establishing an evaluation index system for customer satisfaction of 3PL enterprise based on SERVQUAL model. In phase two, analytic hierarchy process AHP is applied to analyze survey results to find out key factors affecting service quality of 3PL enterprises. Based on these results, some suggestions are given.

A Study on the Pricing Model for 3PL of Inventory Financing

Being a new research area, logistics finance solves the contradiction between banks and SMEs (small and medium enterprises) about financing; it is beneficial to financial market and logistics market development too. As a service innovation, it unites the interests of bank, 3PL (third-party logistics) providers, and SMEs and integrates material, finance, and information. Logistics finance has been developed in recent years in China, but the research is not enough on 3PL enterprises. On the background of that, the paper makes a research in the field of logistics finance with different pricing methods, based on the perspective of third-party logistics enterprises. This paper proposes a pricing model of inventory financing that can maximize the cash flow of 3PL enterprise, when the default rate of the small- and medium-sized enterprise is affected by the pledge price. And then this paper studies the model of inventory financing that can maximize the cash flow of enterprise under the condition of the existence of cash discount rate. The core factors affecting the loan-to-value ratio were established through analysis of mathematical model. We also consider the loan-to-value ratio of cash discount rate in the model. Results show that in the pledge of the known function and cash discount the price change can be calculated to meet enterprise cash flow lending rates and get biggest loan-to-value ratio.

The Cold Chain Logistics for Perishable Agricultural Products in China

This study introduces concepts of the agricultural product cold chain logistics and domestic and international researches. Also, the study discusses issues of Chinese agricultural cold chain logistics in the development process as the following aspects: the dividing of cold chain logistics market, refrigeration hardware facilities, third-party cold chain logistics development, the level of cold chain technologies, cold chain logistics professionals and the legal system and the standard system. Next, this study focuses on the countermeasures to solve problems of the agricultural cold chain logistics development by some ways as followings: increasing investments in technology, accelerating the improvement of the cold chain logistics facilities, strengthening the cultivation of third-party cold chain logistics enterprise, encouraging the training of personnel, promoting the cold chain logistics informatization and improving relevant laws, regulations and standards. Combining with the cold chain logistics of Mengniu Dairy, this study analyzes and proposes countermeasures. Finally, this study summarizes the developments in Chinese agricultural chain logistics, which needs to be strengthened in many aspects for suiting Chinese situation.

Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and balanced scorecard approach for evaluating performance of Third-Party Logistics (TPL) enterprises in Chinese context

Enterprise performance evaluation is a good way to effectively and continuously improve and enhance the efficiency of logistics enterprises. To meet the mounting requirements of reliable, speedy, and flexible delivery to global customers, China’s Third-Party Logistics (TPL) providers have to establish a reasonable performance evaluation system. The objective of this study is to construct an approach based on the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and balanced scorecard (BSC) for evaluating a TPL enterprise in China. The BSC concept is applied to define the hierarchy with four major perspectives (that is, financial, customer, internal business process, and learning and growth), and performance criteria are selected for each perspective. Then, a FAHP approach is proposed in order to tolerate vagueness and ambiguity of information. At last, a numerical example shows the proposed model can be a useful and effective assessment tool for solving this kind of multiple-criteria decision-making problems. Key words: Third-party logistics, performance evaluation, balanced scorecard, fuzzy analytic hierarchy process.

Research about Implementation Strategies in JMI System of Third-Party Logistics Enterprise

Jointly Managed Inventory(JMI) can balance upstream and downstream enterprises' risk-sharing authority and responsibility by the coordination of their common stock, suppliers and manufacturers, and can share their joint stock of raw materials, manufacturers and sale agents can share and sales their joint stock of finished product. Third-party stock mode is one of the typical implementation modes in JMI system. In the paper, we tried to discusses and analyse the key points in implementation strategies in JMI system of third-party logistics enterprise.

The Analyze on Accounting Information System of Third-party Logistics Enterprise

In the face of the fast developing of Information and technology and the appearance of the new management theory, the author analyze the abuse of the conventional accounting system, and use the advance ideas on modern information and technology (REA model and events drive) and the cooperation theory to redesign the frame of Accounting Information System of Third party logistics enterprise, and point out the virtue of the new system.

Using e-commerce to gain a competitive advantage in 3PL enterprises in China

This paper presents an investigation of how the selected foreign and domestic Third-Party Logistics (3PL) enterprises in China use e-commerce to gain competitive advantages. The study starts with an introduction that illustrates how China's economic growth will hinge on the ability of logistics service providers to offer a cost-effective and efficient supply chain. Using e-commerce, 3PL providers now supply more and more value-added services to their customers. With the advent of the boom in the Chinese 3PL industry, both foreign and domestic 3PL providers came and tried to capture the huge market. This represents a theoretical background for conducting research among these 3PL enterprises. The theoretical literature on e-commerce and 3PL logistics is reviewed in order to give a framework of relevant theories and contemporary findings. Four in-depth case studies (two foreign 3PL providers and two 3PL domestic providers) are examined and eight semi-structured interviews are conducted with the senior managers and IT managers in these selected cases. A comparison of the present applications of e-commerce in the case enterprises and the difference in the ways they use e-commerce to gain competitive advantages are made. However, due to the different nature and technological level, the foreign 3PL providers could take a totally different strategy. The study also provides an insight into how they develop their technology and marketing strategies in terms of their own strengths and target markets. That could be a useful reference to relevant researchers or firms.