Title: Determinants of fifth party logistics (5PL): service providers for supply chain management

Authors: Peter Hosie; Balan Sundarakani; Albert Wee Kwan Tan; Aleksandra Koźlak

Addresses: Curtin Business School, Curtin University, Faculty of Business and Management, University of Wollongong in Dubai, Block 15, Knowledge Village, Dubai, UAE ' Faculty of Business and Management, University of Wollongong in Dubai, Block 14, Room 123, Knowledge Village, Dubai, UAE ' Malaysia Institute of Supply Chain Innovation, No. 2A, Persiaran Tebar Layar, Seksyen U8, Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam, Selangor 40150, Malaysia ' Faculty of Economics, University of Gdansk, Sopot 81-824, Armii Krajowej 119/121, Europe

Abstract: The theory and practice of a networked approach to Supply Chain Management (SCM) are used to trace the evolution of management logistics. Reforming influences on competitive forces have deregulated, globalised and innovated, changing fundamentally the conception and practice of SCM. Increased need for strong interfirm networks, among other trends, seems formative. Changed purchasing and customer service functions result in new management methods, business contexts and transportation modes. Radical advances in managing supply chains stem from electronic commerce, notably in transportation and distribution, now widely adopted. Hence, managing logistics services becomes basic to businesses' competitiveness. Economic imperatives, technological innovations, market competition and managerial ability to provide advanced logistics services is encouraging increased trust between firms and their SCM providers. Issues and future trends are prompting the outsourcing of Fourth Party Logistics (4PL) services are identified. Possible future '5PL' services are meta-analytically indicated, with future empirical research suggestions based on novel insights.

Keywords: SCM; supply chain management; 3PL; 4PL; 5PL; interfirm networks; trust; empirical research; fifth party logistics; logistics management; outsourcing; fourth party logistics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2012.049700

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2012 Vol.13 No.3, pp.287 - 316

Published online: 10 Dec 2014 *

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