Technology adoption by logistics service providers
International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management
ISSN: 0960-0035
Article publication date: 4 June 2019
Issue publication date: 7 June 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to reveal the effects of different technology access modes on the successful integration of technological innovations. From the perspective of logistics service providers (LSPs), theoretical and managerial implications for the process of technology adoption are discovered.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper provides a structured literature review of the state-of-the-art in technology adoption by LSPs. Drawing on the innovation diffusion theory (IDT) and absorptive capacity, the explorative case study research includes systematic analyses of ten technology projects conducted by seven different LSPs.
Findings
The findings illustrate that the technology access modes (make, buy and ally) prejudge the success of the integration process in terms of technology acceptance, as well as process quality, speed and costs of integration. This relationship is moderated by technology-, firm-, environment- and relation-related factors.
Research limitations/implications
The paper is limited by its qualitative research approach, only seven different LSPs were addressed. Furthermore, the scope of the investigated technologies is broad but not exhaustive.
Practical implications
For practitioners, research indicates that the way LSPs access technologies is highly related to a successful integration process. Therefore, the paper provides practical support for improving technology adoption.
Originality/value
As the link between LSPs’ technology access strategies and a successful integration process has been largely neglected thus far, this paper is the first contribution addressing this research gap. In this context, IDT and absorptive capacity are discussed for application to technology adoption in supply chain management research.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Publisher Note: The publisher would like to inform readers that the following special issue paper was mistakenly published as part of a regular issue. This error was introduced as part of the editorial process, and the publisher sincerely apologises for this error. The paper will remain in its current issue. The affected paper is as follows.
Mathauer, M. and Hofmann, E. (2019), “Technology adoption by logistics service providers”, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 49 No. 4, pp. 416-434, doi: 10.1108/IJPDLM-02-2019-0064.
The affected paper was originally intended to publish as part of ‘NOFOMA 2018’ guest edited by Jan Stentoft, Per Vagn Freytag, Kannan Govindan and Anne-Mette Hjalager. The publisher would like to take this opportunity to thank the Guest Editors for their time and effort.
The authors gratefully acknowledge the interview partners for their valuable and constructive inputs. A further thank goes to the attendees of the 30th NOFOMA Conference 2018 in Kolding, Denmark, for their inspiring feedback on the presentation of a first paper version.
Citation
Mathauer, M. and Hofmann, E. (2019), "Technology adoption by logistics service providers", International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 49 No. 4, pp. 416-434. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-02-2019-0064
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited