Critical factors in e-business adoption: Evidence from Australian transport and logistics companies

Hong-Oanh Nguyen

International Journal of Production Economics, 2013, vol. 146, issue 1, 300-312

Abstract: This study develops a discrete variable investment model and applies it in the study of the decision to adopt e-business by transport and logistics companies. The data analysis is carried out in two phases; in the first phase, factor analysis is conducted to identify the principal components influential to the e-business adoption decision; in the second phase, logistic regression is conducted to further analyse the effect of individual components on the adoption decision. The analysis of the data obtained from a survey of Australian transport and logistics companies has found various factors influential to the adoption decision. The first factor relates to service quality improvements brought about by e-business adoption including a higher level of competitiveness, service differentiation, value adding, improved customer services and supply chain integration. The second factor concerns the financial aspect of e-business adoption including large initial investment expense, financial constraints, and costs of operation and maintenance. The third factor concerns expectations about market demand in terms of volatility and growth in demand for freight and logistics services. The analysis and results shed light on the behaviour of transport and logistics companies and the sector’s view toward e-business adoption. For example, the decision to adopt e-business should take into account not only the benefits but also the costs of adoption, running and maintenance as well as financial constraints. The model developed by the study can be applied to any sectors or industries, in which companies face discrete investment choices.

Keywords: Investment; Transport and logistics; E-business; Information and communication technology (ICT); Factor analysis; Logistic regression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:proeco:v:146:y:2013:i:1:p:300-312

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2013.07.014

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