The Role of Technology in Enhancing International Logistics Performance : A Study of Digital Transformation in International Logistics and Supply Chain Performance

Abstract

The study explores how digital technologies can be used to facilitate the performance of international logistics through the creation of organisational capabilities. The traditional logistics systems in the environment of the ever-increasingly complex and globalised supply chains are confronted by issues such as inefficiency, lack of visibility, poor coordination, and susceptibility to disruptions. Emerging technologies of the future, like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, big data analytics, and automation, have been identified as potential enabling technologies of Logistics 4.0 that will facilitate real-time tracking, predictive decision-making, and process automation. Nevertheless, the real-world use and implementation of these technologies are still skewed in the distribution of organisations and regions, which has led to the necessity of a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms by which digital technologies can affect logistics results.

By adhering to an inductive, qualitative style of research and utilising thematic analysis as an approach to synthesising secondary literature, this study implements a synthesis method that is both qualitative and interpretivist. The study recognises the important dimensions of digital technologies such as cost efficiency, timeliness, reliability, flexibility, and sustainability. The results indicate that performance impacts of digital technologies are mostly mediated by organisational capabilities, especially visibility, integration, decision-support, and resilience. In addition, the study also identifies important adoption barriers such as resistance to change, lack of leadership support, technological complexity and regulatory constraints and enabling factors such as strategic alignment, workforce development, robust infrastructure and inter-organisational collaboration.

The theoretical value of the study is achieved through combining the value of the Resource-Based View, the Theory of the Economic of Scale, and the Diffusion of Innovation frameworks, which altogether explicates the interplay between technology adoption, development of capabilities, and contextual conditions to yield the impact on logistics performance. In practicality, the study can inform the logistics managers and policy makers on the importance of holistic digital transformation strategies, which ensure technology implementation is done in relation with organizational capabilities and strategic objectives. The study also outlines prospects of future research, such as empirical validation, new technologies, and the issue of regulatory and environmental factors in determining technology usage and performance achievements in international logistics.