Outsourcing to 4PLs – Opportunities, Challenges, Future Outlook

Denitsa Cherneva and Kai-Ingo Voigt

A chapter in Innovations and Strategies for Logistics and Supply Chains: Technologies, Business Models and Risk Management, 2015, pp 231-255 from Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute of Business Logistics and General Management

Abstract: The need for a successful management of logistics services is becoming very acute, as nowadays it defines competitiveness on the global marketplace. Without doubt, the success of LSPs and their clients depends on the ability to vastly adapt to changing customer needs, innovate, develop and supply worldwide complex, high-quality and greener products and services at a competitive rate. In theory, the 4PL business model has emerged as a very promising breakthrough solution for these newly emerging supply chain (SC) challenges. By comprehensively integrating the competencies of multiple LSPs, best-of-breed suppliers and latest technology providers, 4PLs aim to leverage the skill and resource sets along the SC. In business practice, however, this asset-free approach still struggles to take hold. By means of a qualitative research this article provides a clear understanding of the current status and variations of the 4PL phenomenon, its opportunities and challenges for businesses as well as its future outlook in Germany. The results improve the customer perception and remove ambiguities. Therefore, they are relevant for both academicians and practitioners.

Keywords: Logistics outsourcing; 4PL; Opportunities; Challenges (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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