research papers on logistics management

The International Journal of Logistics Management

Issue(s) available: 102 – From Volume: 1 Issue: 1 , to Volume: 35 Issue: 7

• Issue 7 2024 Open Access Issue in Progress
• Issue 4 2024
• Issue 3 2024 Climate Neutral Supply Chains
• Issue 2 2024
• Issue 1 2024
• Issue 7 2023 Open Access Issue
• Issue 6 2023
• Issue 5 2023
• Issue 4 2023 Resilience in Sustainable Supply Chain post-COVID-19: Future Pathways
• Issue 3 2023 Empirically grounded research in logistics and supply chain management for a circular economy
• Issue 2 2023 Bridging the Research-Practice Gaps in Supply Chain Management: Lessons from COVID-19 Part 2
• Issue 1 2023
• Issue 5 2022 Open Access Issue
• Issue 4 2022 Bridging the Research-Practice Gaps in Supply Chain Management: Lessons from COVID-19
• Issue 3 2022
• Issue 2 2022
• Issue 1 2022
• Issue 4 2021
• Issue 3 2021
• Issue 2 2021
• Issue 1 2021 Supply Chain Management in the Latin-American business environment – opportunity or necessity?
• Issue 4 2020
• Issue 3 2020
• Issue 2 2020
• Issue 1 2020
• Issue 4 2019
• Issue 3 2019
• Issue 2 2019
• Issue 1 2019
• Issue 4 2018 22nd International Symposium in Logistics, 2017
• Issue 3 2018 Cold chain supply chain management
• Issue 2 2018 Big data analytics in logistics and supply chain management
• Issue 1 2018
• Issue 4 2017
• Issue 3 2017 International Symposium in Logistics 19/International Symposium in Logistics 20
• Issue 2 2017
• Issue 1 2017 Benchmarking and best practices in supply chain management
• Issue 3 2016
• Issue 2 2016
• Issue 1 2016
• Issue 3 2015
• Issue 2 2015
• Issue 1 2015
• Issue 3 2014
• Issue 2 2014
• Issue 1 2014
• Issue 3 2013
• Issue 2 2013
• Issue 1 2013 Strategic management of ocean freight logistics in an everchanging global economy
• Issue 3 2012
• Issue 2 2012
• Issue 1 2012
• Issue 3 2011
• Issue 2 2011
• Issue 1 2011
• Issue 3 2010
• Issue 2 2010
• Issue 1 2010
• Issue 3 2009
• Issue 2 2009
• Issue 1 2009
• Issue 3 2008
• Issue 2 2008 Building Theory in Business Logistics Through Reviews of the Literature
• Issue 1 2008
• Issue 3 2007
• Issue 2 2007
• Issue 1 2007
• Issue 3 2006
• Issue 2 2006
• Issue 1 2006
• Issue 2 2005
• Issue 1 2005
• Issue 2 2004
• Issue 1 2004
• Issue 2 2003
• Issue 1 2003
• Issue 2 2002
• Issue 1 2002
• Issue 2 2001
• Issue 1 2001
• Issue 2 2000
• Issue 1 2000
• Issue 2 1999
• Issue 1 1999
• Issue 2 1998
• Issue 1 1998
• Issue 2 1997
• Issue 1 1997
• Issue 2 1996
• Issue 1 1996
• Issue 2 1995
• Issue 1 1995
• Issue 2 1994
• Issue 1 1994
• Issue 2 1993
• Issue 1 1993
• Issue 2 1992
• Issue 1 1992
• Issue 2 1991
• Issue 1 1991
• Issue 2 1990
• Issue 1 1990

Switching to green vehicles for last-mile delivery: why perceived green product knowledge, consumption values and environmental concern matter

This study investigated the intention of carriers to switch to green vehicles in last-mile delivery (GVLDs) in an emerging market.

Exploring the nexus of industry dynamism, climate risk exposure and mental health and well-being of owners of small and micro-sized suppliers: implications for sustainable supply chain management

Although climate change-related risks affect all stakeholders along the supply chain, the potential impact on small and micro-sized suppliers is incredibly excessive. The…

Influence of platform governance and community diversity on users' value co-creation in sharing platform? Insights from China

Instant crowdsourcing logistics (ICL) platform is an emerging business model in the field of logistics services. Crowdsourcees’ active participation in platform value co-creation…

Demand and supply shocks derived from COVID-19 on the freight transportation system in Mexico

This paper's purpose is twofold. First, based on a case study, it aims to comprehend the consequences of COVID-19 on the demand and supply shocks of the freight transportation…

Ambidextrous supply chain strategy: roles and consequences with agile manufacturing and resilience

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of ambidextrous strategy on supply chain resilience and its impact on firm performance, employing the Dynamic…

Theoretical perspectives in reverse logistics research

Theory is an essential prerequisite in the development and maturation of any scholarly discipline. This study offers insight into theory development in reverse logistics (RL…

A multi-method examination of barriers to traceability in Industry 5.0-enabled digital food supply chains

Recent worldwide developments have altered how businesses operate. As a result, when making business decisions, the emphasis for many industries has shifted towards digital…

Prioritizing evaluation criteria of IoT-driven warehousing startups: a silver lining to the unorganized sector in food supply chain

This research is designed to meet two research objectives: firstly, to weigh up the criteria of Internet of Things (IoT) adoption in warehousing startups; secondly, to rank…

Understanding the impact of technology investments on financial performance among Latin American supply chains

In spite of the fact that today’s supply chains are global, it is surprising the current research lacks studies primarily focusing on Latin American (LATAM) firms. To enhance our…

Assessing the effects of logistics performance on export and competitiveness using SEM methodology: evidence from firm-level data

The purpose of the paper is to determine the importance of trade logistics in export intensification and competitiveness on the level of individual companies. Within the framework…

Does digital transformation foster carbon emissions reduction? Evidence from China’s manufacturing supply chain

Scholars and practitioners have long debated carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduction via setting double-carbon goals of peak emissions and carbon neutrality in China. Our study…

Can smart supply chain bring agility and resilience for enhanced sustainable business performance?

Supply chains need to be made viable in this volatile and competitive market, which could be possible through digitalization. This study is an attempt to explore the role of…

Food supply chain resilience through digital transformation: a mixed-method approach

This study aims to explore the relationship between digital transformation and resilience development in the Australian food supply chain (FSC), and identify the contribution of…

Food insecurity: addressing a challenging social problem with supply chains and service ecosystems

Extant literature in supply chain management tends to address a portion of the product flow to make food accessible to clients in need. The authors present a broader view of food…

Examining the impact of leader's paradoxical cognition on supply chain sustainability: a moderated chain mediation model

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused havoc on a global scale for supply chains, which put forward higher demand for organizations to reassess their global supply chain strategy and…

From exploitation and exploration to exaptation? A logistics service provider's (LSP) perspective on building supply chain resilience capabilities during disruptions

During the supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19, logistics service providers (LSPs) have invested heavily in innovations to enhance their supply chain resilience…

Unlocking the potential: leveraging blockchain technology for agri-food supply chain performance and sustainability

Blockchain technology (BCT) has emerged as a powerful tool for enhancing transparency and trust. However, the relationship between the benefits of BCT and agri-food supply chain…

Artificial intelligence-based reverse logistics for improving circular economy performance: a developing country perspective

Reverse logistics services are designed to move goods from their point of consumption to an endpoint to capture value or properly dispose of products and materials. Artificial…

Supply chain sustainability, risk and transformational tension: a systems perspective

Sustainability continues to be put forth as a strategic priority. However, sustainability efforts are often deemphasized for short-term profitability. This study explores the…

Navigating the challenges of AI-enabled circular economy in the food and beverage sector: strategies for sustainable transformation

The pressing issues of climate change and environmental degradation call for a reevaluation of how we approach economic activities. Both leaders and corporations are now shifting…

Strengthening resilience in supply chains: the role of multi-layer flexibility, supply chain risks and environmental dynamism

This study examines the relationship between multi-layer supply chain flexibility (MSCF) and Supply chain resilience (SCR). Further, it looks at the moderating effect of…

Supporting disaster relief operations through RFID: enabling visibility and coordination

In the aftermath of disasters, humanitarian actors need to coordinate their activities based on accurate information about the disaster site, its surrounding environment, the…

Factors influencing ICT implementation in motorcycle goods transport: the mediating role of business efficiency, infrastructure and motorcycle benefits

Through the “Going Digital Initiative,” the Ghanaian government has introduced policies that aim at improving the information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure of…

Storm in a teacup: implications of mobile phone literacy on sustainable smallholder agri-food supply chains in developing economies

This study explores digital transformation in the tea supply chain within developing economies, with a focus on smallholder tea producers in Sri Lanka. Tea is one of the most…

Mastering timely deliveries using dynamic capabilities: perspectives from logistics service providers and shippers

The criticality of late deliveries in transportation lies in the threat of considerable multi-level supply chain costs. This study aims to reveal the dynamic capabilities playing…

Drones in last-mile delivery: a systematic literature review from a logistics management perspective

This study presents a systematic literature review (SLR) of the interdisciplinary literature on drones in last-mile delivery (LMD) to extrapolate pertinent insights from and into…

From novice to expert: advancing step-by-step simulation guideline for urban logistics with an open-source simulation tool

This research analyses challenges faced by users at various levels in planning and designing participatory simulation models of cities. It aims to identify issues that hinder…

Digital technology adoption challenges in the agri-food supply chain from the perspective of attaining sustainable development goals

The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges surrounding the implementation of digital technology (DT) agri-food supply chain (AFSC) and explore how these challenges…

Improving the picking efficiency of a cold warehouse to avoid temperature abuse

This research investigates how to optimize storage location assignment to decrease the order picking time and the waiting time of orders in the staging area of low-temperature…

Can logistics and supply chain resilience strategies minimize the impacts of disruptions: evidence from Japan

This study investigates whether logistics and supply chain resilience strategies (SCREST) can help mitigate the negative impacts of disruptions on firm performance and logistics…

Exploring the performance impact of unit load selection in order picking: evidence from a cold retail supply chain

Prior literature has widely established that the design of storage locations impacts order picking task performance. The purpose of this study is to investigate the performance…

Harvesting sustainability: assessing Industry 4.0 in agri-food supply chains

The agri-food industry is experiencing a revolutionary shift due to the introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies to improve efficiency, transparency and sustainability. The…

The role of organisational and contextual factors in supply chain collaboration and competitive advantage: the case of the garment industry in Vietnam

This research aims to investigate how organisational and contextual factors affect supply chain collaboration and how that, in turn, influences firms' competitive advantage in the…

Learning from Habermas and Machiavelli: a thought experiment in supply chain management

The purpose of this paper is to show the benefits of bridging the gap between supply chain management (SCM) and political philosophy to challenge the underlying assumptions about…

Together, we travel: empirical insights on human-robot collaborative order picking for retail warehousing

Increasing personnel costs and labour shortages have pushed retailers to give increasing attention to their intralogistics operations. We study hybrid order picking systems, in…

Mapping the terrain for the Lean Supply Chain 4.0

This study aims to carry out a systematic literature review (SLR) on the integration of Lean, Industry 4.0 and the supply chain or the Lean Supply Chain (LSC) 4.0. The research…

Factors influencing career advancement in supply chain management with gender perspectives: French case study

The field of supply chain management (SCM) needs to attract and retain workers to solve the current talent shortage. The purpose of this research is to identify and evaluate…

Perceived relationship between green logistics practices and sustainability performance: a multi-methodology approach

Despite the wide use of quantitative assessment to identify the relationship between green logistics (GL) practices and the sustainability performance (SP) of firms, results of…

Impact of circular economy practices on supply chain capability, flexibility and sustainable supply chain performance

This paper analyses the effect of circular economy practices on sustainable supply chain performance. The study explores the impact of mediating variables such as supply chain…

Circular supply chain valorisation through sustainable value mapping in the post-consumer used clothing sector

The purpose of this study is to explore the antecedents of uncaptured sustainable value and strategies to generate opportunities to capture it in the circular supply chain of…

How blockchain manages supply chain risks: evidence from Indian manufacturing companies

This study aims to investigate the contribution of blockchain technology to supply chain risk management and its impact on performance among Indian manufacturing companies.

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic – catching up in the food industry through business model innovation

The food supply chain worldwide has suffered severely due to the COVID-19 pandemic countermeasures. Previous research suggests that business model innovation (BMI) could be a…

Strategies to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on supply chain disruptions: a multiple case analysis of buyers and distributors

This paper explores the steps/countermeasures taken by buying and distributing firms to address supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19.

Supply chains and COVID-19: impacts, countermeasures and post-COVID-19 era

This paper explores the steps/countermeasures taken by firms to address supply chain disruptions in the wake of COVID-19.

Online date, start – end:

Copyright holder:, open access:.

• Prof. Britta Gammelgaard

Further Information

• About the journal (opens new window)
• Purchase information (opens new window)
• Editorial team (opens new window)
• Write for this journal (opens new window)

All feedback is valuable

Please share your general feedback

Report an issue or find answers to frequently asked questions

Contact Customer Support

• Browse All Articles
• Newsletter Sign-Up

Logistics →

• 25 Apr 2023

How SHEIN and Temu Conquered Fast Fashion—and Forged a New Business Model

The platforms SHEIN and Temu match consumer demand and factory output, bringing Chinese production to the rest of the world. The companies have remade fast fashion, but their pioneering approach has the potential to go far beyond retail, says John Deighton.

• 18 Oct 2022
• Cold Call Podcast

Chewy.com’s Make-or-Break Logistics Dilemma

In late 2013, Ryan Cohen, cofounder and then-CEO of online pet products retailer Chewy.com, was facing a decision that could determine his company’s future. Should he stay with a third-party logistics provider (3PL) for all of Chewy.com’s e-commerce fulfillment or take that function in house? Cohen was convinced that achieving scale would be essential to making the business work and he worried that the company’s current 3PL may not be able to scale with Chewy.com’s projected growth or maintain the company’s performance standards for service quality and fulfillment. But neither he nor his cofounders had any experience managing logistics, and the company’s board members were pressuring him to leave order fulfillment to the 3PL. They worried that any changes could destabilize the existing 3PL relationship and endanger the viability of the fast-growing business. What should Cohen do? Senior Lecturer Jeffrey Rayport discusses the options in his case, “Chewy.com (A).”

• 12 Jul 2022

Can the Foodservice Distribution Industry Recover from the Pandemic?

At the height of the pandemic in 2020, US Foods struggled, as restaurant and school closures reduced demand for foodservice distribution. The situation improved after the return of indoor dining and in-person learning, but an industry-wide shortage of truck drivers and warehouse staff hampered the foodservice distributor’s post-pandemic recovery. That left CEO Pietro Satriano to determine the best strategy to attract and retain essential workers, even as he was tasked with expanding the wholesale grocery store chain (CHEF’STORE) that US Foods launched during the pandemic lockdown. Harvard Business School Professor David E. Bell explores how post-pandemic supply chain challenges continue to affect the foodservice distribution industry in his case, “US Foods: Driving Post-Pandemic Success?”

• 05 Jul 2022
• What Do You Think?

Have We Seen the Peak of Just-in-Time Inventory Management?

Toyota and other companies have harnessed just-in-time inventory management to cut logistics costs and boost service. That is, until COVID-19 roiled global supply chains. Will we ever get back to the days of tighter inventory control? asks James Heskett. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

• 19 Oct 2021
• Research & Ideas

Fed Up Workers and Supply Woes: What's Next for Dollar Stores?

Willy Shih discusses how higher costs, shipping delays, and worker shortages are putting the dollar store business model to the test ahead of the critical holiday shopping season. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

• 26 Mar 2014

How Electronic Patient Records Can Slow Doctor Productivity

Electronic health records are sweeping through the medical field, but some doctors report a disturbing side effect. Instead of becoming more efficient, some practices are becoming less so. Robert Huckman's research explains why. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

• 11 Nov 2013
• Working Paper Summaries

Increased Speed Equals Increased Wait: The Impact of a Reduction in Emergency Department Ultrasound Order Processing Time

This study of ultrasound test orders in hospital emergency departments (EDs) shows that, paradoxically, increasing capacity in a service setting may not alleviate congestion, and can actually increase it due to increased resource use. Specifically, the study finds that reducing the time it takes to order an ultrasound counter intuitively increases patient throughput time as a result of increased ultrasound use without a corresponding increase in quality of care. Furthermore, the authors show that in the complex, interconnected system or hospitals, changes in resource capacity affects not only the patients who receive the additional resources, but also other patients who share the resource, in this case, radiology. These results highlight how demand can be influenced by capacity due to behavioral responses to changes in resource availability, and that this change in demand has far reaching effects on multiple types of patients. Interestingly, the increased ultrasound ordering capacity was achieved by removing what appeared to be a "wasteful" step in the process. However, the results suggest that the step may not have been wasteful as it reduced inefficient ultrasound orders. In healthcare, these results are very important as they provide an explanation for some of the ever-increasing costs: reducing congestion through increased capacity results in even more congestion due to higher resource use. Overall, the study suggests an operations-based solution of increasing the cost/difficulty of ordering discretionary but sometimes low-efficacy treatments to address the rise in healthcare spending. Therefore, to improve hospital performance it could be optimal to put into place "inefficiencies" to become more efficient. Key concepts include: A process improvement can inadvertently cause an increase in demand for a service as well as associated shared resources, which results in congestion, counter intuitively decreasing overall system performance. While individual patients and physicians may benefit from the reduced processing time, there can be unintended consequences for overall system performance. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 25 Jan 2013

Why a Harvard Finance Instructor Went to the Kumbh Mela

Every 12 years, millions of Hindu pilgrims travel to the Indian city of Allahabad for the Kumbh Mela, the largest public gathering in the world. In this first-person account, Senior Lecturer John Macomber shares his first impressions and explains what he's doing there. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 07 Aug 2012

Off and Running: Professors Comment on Olympics

The most difficult challenge at The Olympics is the behind-the-scenes efforts to actually get them up and running. Is it worth it? HBS professors Stephen A. Greyser, John D. Macomber, and John T. Gourville offer insights into the business behind the games. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

• 19 Oct 2010

The Impact of Supply Learning on Customer Demand: Model and Estimation Methodology

"Supply learning" is the process by which customers predict a company's ability to fulfill product orders in the future using information about how well the company fulfilled orders in the past. A new paper investigates how and whether a customer's assumptions about future supplier performance will affect the likelihood that the customer will order from that supplier in the future. Research, based on data from apparel manufacturer Hugo Boss, was conducted by Nathan Craig and Ananth Raman of Harvard Business School, and Nicole DeHoratius of the University of Portland. Key concepts include: Two key measures of supplier performance include "consistency", which is the likelihood that a company will continue to keep items in stock and meet demand, and "recovery", which is the likelihood that a company will deliver on time in spite of past stock-outs. Improvements in consistency and recovery are associated with increases in orders from retail customers. Increasing the level of service may lead to an increase in orders, even when the service level is already nearly perfect. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 19 Jul 2010

How Mercadona Fixes Retail’s ’Last 10 Yards’ Problem

Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona offers aggressive pricing, yet high-touch customer service and above-average employee wages. What's its secret? The operations between loading dock and the customer's hands, says HBS professor Zeynep Ton. Key concepts include: The last 10 yards of the supply chain lies between the store's loading dock and the customer's hands. Poor operational decisions create unnecessary complications that lead to quality problems and lower labor productivity and, in general, make life hard for retail employees. Adopting Mercadona's approach requires a long-term view and a leader with a strong backbone. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 12 Jul 2010

Rocket Science Retailing: A Practical Guide

How can retailers make the most of cutting-edge developments and emerging technologies? Book excerpt plus Q&A with HBS professor Ananth Raman, coauthor with Wharton professor Marshall Fisher of The New Science of Retailing: How Analytics Are Transforming the Supply Chain and Improving Performance. Key concepts include: Retailers can better identify and exploit hidden opportunities in the data they generate. Integrating new analytics within retail organizations is not easy. Raman outlines the typical barriers and a path to overcome them. Incentives must be aligned within organizations and in the supply chain. The first step is to identify the behavior you want to induce. To attract and retain the best employees, successful retailers empower them in specific ways. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 05 Jul 2006

The Motion Picture Industry: Critical Issues in Practice, Current Research & New Research Directions

This paper reviews research and trends in three key areas of movie making: production, distribution, and exhibition. In the production process, the authors recommend risk management and portfolio management for studios, and explore talent compensation issues. Distribution trends show that box-office performance will increasingly depend on a small number of blockbusters, advertising spending will rise (but will cross different types of media), and the timing of releases (and DVDs) will become a bigger issue. As for exhibiting movies, trends show that more sophisticated exhibitors will emerge, contractual changes between distributor and exhibitors will change, and strategies for tickets prices may be reevaluated. Key concepts include: Business tools such as quantitative and qualitative research and market research should be applied to the decision-making process at earlier stages of development. Technological developments will continue to have unknown effects on every stage of the movie-making value chain (production, distribution, exhibition, consumption). Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 20 Dec 2004

How an Order Views Your Company

HBS Professors Benson Shapiro and Kash Rangan bring us up to date on their pioneering research that helped ignite today’s intense focus on the customer. The key? Know your order cycle management. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 15 Apr 2002

In the Virtual Dressing Room Returns Are A Real Problem

That little red number looked smashing onscreen, but the puce caftan the delivery guy brought is just one more casualty of the online shopping battle. HBS professor Jan Hammond researches what the textile and apparel industries can do to curtail returns. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 26 Nov 2001

How Toyota Turns Workers Into Problem Solvers

Toyota's reputation for sustaining high product quality is legendary. But the company's methods are not secret. So why can't other carmakers match Toyota's track record? HBS professor Steven Spear says it's all about problem solving. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 19 Nov 2001

Wrapping Your Alliances In a World Wide Web

HBS professor Andrew McAfee researches how the Internet affects manufacturing and productivity and how business can team up to get the most out of technology. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 22 Jan 2001

Control Your Inventory in a World of Lean Retailing

"Manufacturers of consumer goods are in the hot seat these days," the authors of this Harvard Business Review article remind readers. But there is no need to surrender to escalating costs of inventories. In this excerpt, they describe one new way to help lower inventory costs. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 12 Oct 1999

Decoding the DNA of the Toyota Production System

How can one production operation be both rigidly scripted and enormously flexible? In this summary of an article from the Harvard Business Review, HBS Professors H. Kent Bowen and Steven Spear disclose the secret to Toyota's production success. The company's operations can be seen as a continuous series of controlled experiments: whenever Toyota defines a specification, it is establishing a hypothesis that is then tested through action. The workers, who have internalized this scientific-method approach, are stimulated to respond to problems as they appear; using data from the strictly defined experiment, they are able to adapt fluidly to changing circumstances. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

Rapid Response: Inside the Retailing Revolution

A simple bar code scan at your local department store today launches a whirlwind of action: data is transmitted about the color, the size, and the style of the item to forecasters and production planners; distributors and suppliers are informed of the demand and the possible need to restock. All in the blink of an electronic eye. It wasn’t always this way, though. HBS Professor Janice Hammond has focused her recent research on the transformation of the apparel and textile industries from the classic, limited model to the new lean inventories and flexible manufacturing capabilities. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

Advertisement

Operations management of smart logistics: A literature review and future research

• Review Article
• Open access
• Published: 15 April 2021
• Volume 8 , pages 344–355, ( 2021 )

Cite this article

You have full access to this open access article

• Bo Feng 1 &
• Qiwen Ye 2  

12k Accesses

51 Citations

Explore all metrics

The global collaboration and integration of online and offline channels have brought new challenges to the logistics industry. Thus, smart logistics has become a promising solution for handling the increasing complexity and volume of logistics operations. Technologies, such as the Internet of Things, information communication technology, and artificial intelligence, enable more efficient functions into logistics operations. However, they also change the narrative of logistics management. Scholars in the areas of engineering, logistics, transportation, and management are attracted by this revolution. Operations management research on smart logistics mainly concerns the application of underlying technologies, business logic, operation framework, related management system, and optimization problems under specific scenarios. To explore these studies, the related literature has been systematically reviewed in this work. On the basis of the research gaps and the needs of industrial practices, future research directions in this field are also proposed.

Article PDF

Download to read the full article text

Similar content being viewed by others

Toward Smart Logistics: Engineering Insights and Emerging Trends

A Literature Review on Smart Technologies and Logistics

Application of Information Platform in Smart Logistics System

Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.

Al-Turjman F, Hasan M Z, Al-Rizzo H (2018). Task scheduling in cloud-based survivability applications using swarm optimization in IoT. Transactions on Emerging Telecommunications Technologies, 30(8): e3539

Google Scholar  

Alam K M, El Saddik A (2017). C2PS: A digital twin architecture reference model for the cloud-based cyber-physical systems. IEEE Access, 1: 2050–2062

Article   Google Scholar  

Anandhi S, Anitha R, Sureshkumar V (2019). IoT enabled RFID authentication and secure object tracking system for smart logistics. Wireless Personal Communications, 104(2): 543–560

Anderluh A, Nolz P C, Hemmelmayr V C, Crainic T G (2021). Multi-objective optimization of a two-echelon vehicle routing problem with vehicle synchronization and “grey zone” customers arising in urban logistics. European Journal of Operational Research, 289(3): 940–958

Article   MathSciNet   MATH   Google Scholar  

Andersson J, Jonsson P (2018). Big data in spare parts supply chains: The potential of using product-in-use data in aftermarket demand planning. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 48(5): 524–544

Barreto L, Amaral A, Pereira T (2017). Industry 4.0 implications in logistics: An overview. Procedia Manufacturing, 1: 1245–1252

Blümel E (2013). Global challenges and innovative technologies geared toward new markets: Prospects for virtual and augmented reality. Procedia Computer Science, 1: 4–13

Borstell H, Pathan S, Cao L, Richter K, Nykolaychuk M (2013). Vehicle positioning system based on passive planar image markers. In: International Conference on Indoor Positioning and Indoor Navigation. Montbeliard: IEEE, 1–9

Breivold H P, Sandström K (2015). Internet of Things for industrial automation—Challenges and technical solutions. In: International Conference on Data Science and Data Intensive Systems. Sydney: IEEE, 532–539

Caballero-Gil C, Molina-Gil J, Caballero-Gil P, Quesada-Arencibia A (2013). IoT application in the supply chain logistics. In: International Conference on Computer Aided Systems Theory. Berlin: Springer, 55–62

Chen Q Y, Lin Y H, Qiu R Z (2016). Optimization of the multi-object recognition algorithm based on RFID for woodwork logistics. Journal of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (Natural Science Edition), 45(4): 476–480 (in Chinese)

Chen X (2019). The development trend and practical innovation of smart cities under the integration of new technologies. Frontiers of Engineering Management, 6(4): 485–502

Chen Y (2020). Novel smart logistics pipeline based on cloud scheduling and intelligent interactive data center. In: International Conference on Inventive Computation Technologies (ICICT). Coimbatore: IEEE, 467–470

Chapter   Google Scholar  

Cho S, Kim J (2017). Smart logistics model on Internet of Things environment. Advanced Science Letters, 23(3): 1599–1602

Chu Z, Feng B, Lai F (2018). Logistics service innovation by third party logistics providers in China: Aligning guanxi and organizational structure. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 1: 291–307

Dong C, Franklin R (2020). From the digital Internet to the physical Internet: A conceptual framework with a stylized network model. Journal of Business Logistics, in press, doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/jbl.12253

Eitzen H, Lopez-Pires F, Baran B, Sandoya F, Chicaiza J L (2017). A multi-objective two-echelon vehicle routing problem. An urban goods movement approach for smart city logistics. In: XLIII Latin American Computing Conference. Córdoba: IEEE, 1–10

Feng B, Ye Q W, Collins B J (2019). A dynamic model of electric vehicle adoption: The role of social commerce in new transportation. Information & Management, 56(2): 196–212

Fraile F, Tagawa T, Poler R, Ortiz A (2018). Trustworthy industrial IoT gateways for interoperability platforms and ecosystems. IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 5(6): 4506–4514

Fu Y, Zhu J (2019). Operation mechanisms for intelligent logistics system: A blockchain perspective. IEEE Access, 1: 144202–144213

Fukui T (2016). A systems approach to big data technology applied to supply chain. In: International Conference on Big Data. Washington DC: IEEE, 3732–3736

Gallay O, Hongler M O (2009). Circulation of autonomous agents in production and service networks. International Journal of Production Economics, 120(2): 378–388

Gan M, Yang S, Li D, Wang M, Chen S, Xie R, Liu J (2018). A novel intensive distribution logistics network design and profit allocation problem considering sharing economy. Complexity, 4678358

Gregor T, Krajčovič M, Więcek D (2017). Smart connected logistics. Procedia Engineering, 1: 265–270

Hasan M Z, Al-Rizzo H (2020). Task scheduling in Internet of Things cloud environment using a robust particle swarm optimization. Concurrency and Computation: Practice and Experience, 32(2): e5442

He L (2017). The development trend of China’s smart logistics. China Business and Market, 31(6): 3–7 (in Chinese)

Hilpert H, Kranz J, Schumann M (2013). Leveraging green is in logistics. Business & Information Systems Engineering, 5(5): 315–325

Hongler M O, Gallay O, Hülsmann M, Cordes P, Colmorn R (2010). Centralized versus decentralized control—A solvable stylized model in transportation. Physica A: Statal Mechanics & Its Applications, 389(19): 4162–4171

Hopkins J, Hawking P (2018). Big data analytics and IoT in logistics: A case study. International Journal of Logistics Management, 29(2): 575–591

Hu W (2019). An improved flower pollination algorithm for optimization of intelligent logistics distribution center. Advances in Production Engineering & Management, 14(2): 177–188

Huang S, Guo Y, Zha S, Wang Y (2019). An Internet-of-Things-based production logistics optimisation method for discrete manufacturing. International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 32(1): 13–26

Jabeur N, Al-Belushi T, Mbarki M, Gharrad H (2017). Toward leveraging smart logistics collaboration with a multi-agent system based solution. Procedia Computer Science, 1: 672–679

Jagwani P, Kumar M (2018). IoT powered vehicle tracking system (VTS). In: International Conference on Computational Science and Its Applications. Melbourne: Springer, 488–498

Jiao Y B (2014). Based on the electronic commerce environment of intelligent logistics system construction. Advanced Materials Research, 850–1: 1057–1060

Katsuma R, Yoshida S (2018). Dynamic routing for emergency vehicle by collecting real-time road conditions. International Journal of Communications, Network & System Sciences, 11(2): 27–44

Kim S H, Cohen M A, Netessine S (2017). Reliability or inventory? An analysis of performance-based contracts for product support services. In: Ha A, Tang C, eds. Handbook of Information Exchange in Supply Chain Management. Cham: Springer, 65–68

Kim T Y, Dekker R, Heij C (2018). Improving warehouse labour efficiency by intentional forecast bias. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 48(1): 93–110

Kirch M, Poenicke O, Richter K (2017). RFID in logistics and production—Applications, research and visions for smart logistics zones. Procedia Engineering, 1: 526–533

Klumpp M (2018). Economic and social advances for geospatial data use in vehicle routing. In: International Conference on Dynamics in Logistics. Bremen: Springer, 368–377

Kong X T, Fang J, Luo H, Huang G Q (2015). Cloud-enabled real-time platform for adaptive planning and control in auction logistics center. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 1: 79–90

Kovalský M, Mičieta B (2017). Support planning and optimization of intelligent logistics systems. Procedia Engineering, 1: 451–456

Kwak K H, Bae N J, Cho Y Y (2014). Smart logistics service model based on context information. In: Park J, Zomaya A, Jeong H Y, Obaidat M, eds. Frontier and Innovation in Future Computing and Communications. Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, vol. 301. Dordrecht: Springer, 669–676

Lee C K M, Lv Y, Ng K K H, Ho W, Choy K L (2018). Design and application of Internet of Things-based warehouse management system for smart logistics. International Journal of Production Research, 56(8): 2753–2768

Lee S, Kang Y, Prabhu V V (2016). Smart logistics: Distributed control of green crowdsourced parcel services. International Journal of Production Research, 54(23): 6956–6968

Lei L (2015). Research on the key technology of RFID and its application in modern logistics. In: AASRI International Conference on Industrial Electronics and Applications. Paris: Atlantis Press, 328–331

Levina A I, Dubgorn A S, Iliashenko O Y (2017). Internet of Things within the service architecture of intelligent transport systems. In: European Conference on Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). Bern: IEEE, 351–355

Li S, Sun Q, Wu W (2019a). Benefit distribution method of coastal port intelligent logistics supply chain under cloud computing. Journal of Coastal Research, 93(SI): 1041–1046

Li Y, Chu F, Feng C, Chu C, Zhou M (2019b). Integrated production inventory routing planning for intelligent food logistics systems. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 20(3): 867–878

Lin N, Shi Y, Zhang T, Wang X (2019). An effective order-aware hybrid genetic algorithm for capacitated vehicle routing problems in Internet of Things. IEEE Access, 1: 86102–86114

Liu B W, Liu X F, Li J T (2014). Research on heterogeneous information integration for intelligent logistics information system based on Internet of Things. WIT Transactions on Information and Communication Technologies, 1: 1783–1789

Liu C, Feng Y, Lin D, Wu L, Guo M (2020). IoT based laundry services: An application of big data analytics, intelligent logistics management, and machine learning techniques. International Journal of Production Research, 58(17): 5113–5131

Liu P, Yang L, Gao Z, Huang Y, Li S, Gao Y (2018). Energy-efficient train timetable optimization in the subway system with energy storage devices. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 19(12): 3947–3963

Liu T, Yue Q, Wu X (2015). Design and implementation of cloud-based port logistics public service platform. In: International Conference on Computer & Communications. Chengdu: IEEE, 234–239

Liu Y Q, Wang H (2016a). Optimization for logistics network based on the demand analysis of customer. In: Chinese Control and Decision Conference (CCDC). Yinchuan: IEEE, 4547–4552

Liu Y Q, Wang H (2016b). Optimization for service supply network based on the user’s delivery time under the background of big data. In: Chinese Control and Decision Conference (CCDC). Yinchuan: IEEE, 4564–4569

Lo C C, Hsieh W C, Huang L T (2004). The implementation of an intelligent logistics tracking system utilizing RFID. In: The 4th International Conference on Electronic Business. Beijing, 199–204

Luo H, Chen J, Huang G Q (2016a). IoT enabled production-logistic synchronization in make-to-order industry. In: Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management. Paris: Atlantis Press, 527–538

Luo H, Zhu M, Ye S, Hou H, Chen Y, Bulysheva L (2016b). An intelligent tracking system based on Internet of Things for the cold chain. Internet Research, 26(2): 435–445

Ma X, Wang J, Bai Q, Wang S (2020). Optimization of a three-echelon cold chain considering freshness-keeping efforts undercap-and-trade regulation in Industry 4.0. International Journal of Production Economics, 220: 107457

Moradi B (2020). The new optimization algorithm for the vehicle routing problem with time windows using multi-objective discrete learnable evolution model. Soft Computing, 24(9): 6741–6769

Article   MathSciNet   Google Scholar  

Murguzur A, de Carlos X, Trujillo S, Sagardui G (2014). Context-aware staged configuration of process variants@runtime. In: International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering. Thessaloniki: Springer, 241–255

Nguyen J, Wu Y, Zhang J, Yu W, Lu C (2019). Real-time data transport scheduling for edge/cloud-based Internet of Things. In: International Conference on Computing, Networking and Communications (ICNC). Honolulu, HI: IEEE, 642–646

Porter M E, Heppelmann J E (2014). How smart, connected products are transforming competition. Harvard Business Review, 92(11): 64–88

Rjoub G, Bentahar J, Wahab O A, Bataineh A (2019). Deep smart scheduling: A deep learning approach for automated big data scheduling over the cloud. In: 7th International Conference on Future Internet of Things and Cloud. Istanbul: IEEE, 189–196

Sarkar B, Guchhait R, Sarkar M, Cárdenas-Barrón L E (2019). How does an industry manage the optimum cash flow within a smart production system with the carbon footprint and carbon emission under logistics framework? International Journal of Production Economics, 1: 243–257

Schluse M, Priggemeyer M, Atorf L, Rossmann J (2018). Experimen-table digital twins—Streamlining simulation-based systems engineering for Industry 4.0. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 14(4): 1722–1731

Shen Z M, Feng B, Mao C, Ran L (2019). Optimization models for electric vehicle service operations: A literature review. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, 1: 462–477

Siror J K, Huanye S, Dong W (2011). RFID based model for an intelligent port. Computers in Industry, 62(8–9): 795–810

Sivamani S, Kwak K, Cho Y (2014). A study on intelligent user-centric logistics service model using ontology. Journal of Applied Mathematics, 162838

Su Y, Fan Q M (2020). The green vehicle routing problem from a smart logistics perspective. IEEE Access, 1: 839–846

Sun R, Liu M, Zhao L (2019). Research on logistics distribution path optimization based on PSO and IoT. International Journal of Wavelets, Multiresolution and Information Processing, 17(6): 1950051

Tang H, Yang X, Xiong S (2013). Modified particle swarm algorithm for vehicle routing optimization of smart logistics. In: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Measurement, Information and Control. Harbin: IEEE, 783–787

Tao F, Zhang H, Liu A, Nee A Y C (2019). Digital twin in industry: State-of-the-art. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 15(4): 2405–2415

Trab S, Bajic E, Zouinkhi A, Abdelkrim M N, Chekir H, Ltaief R H (2015). Product allocation planning with safety compatibility constraints in IoT-based warehouse. Procedia Computer Science, 1: 290–297

Trab S, Bajic E, Zouinkhi A, Thomas A, Abdelkrim M N, Chekir H, Ltaief R H (2017). A communicating object’s approach for smart logistics and safety issues in warehouses. Concurrent Engineering, 25 (1): 53–67

Trappey A J C, Trappey C V, Fan C Y, Hsu A P T, Li X K, Lee I J Y (2017). IoT patent roadmap for smart logistic service provision in the context of Industry 4.0. Journal of the Chinese Institute of Engineers, 40(7): 593–602

Tsang Y P, Choy K L, Wu C H, Ho G T S, Lam H Y, Koo P S (2017). An IoT-based cargo monitoring system for enhancing operational effectiveness under a cold chain environment. International Journal of Engineering Business Management, 1: 1–13

Tu M, Lim M K, Yang M F (2018). IoT-based production logistics and supply chain system—Part 2. IoT-based cyber-physical system: A framework and evaluation. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 118(1): 96–125

Tuli S, Ilager S, Ramamohanarao K, Buyya R (2020). Dynamic scheduling for stochastic edge-cloud computing environments using A3C learning and residual recurrent neural networks. IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, 1: 1–15

Verdouw C N, Robbemond R M, Verwaart T, Wolfert J, Beulens A J (2018). A reference architecture for IoT-based logistic information systems in agri-food supply chains. Enterprise Information Systems, 12(7): 755–779

Wang C L, Li S W (2018). Hybrid fruit fly optimization algorithm for solving multi-compartment vehicle routing problem in intelligent logistics. Advances in Production Engineering & Management, 13 (4): 466–478

Wang D, Zhu J, Wei X, Cheng T C E, Yin Y, Wang Y (2019). Integrated production and multiple trips vehicle routing with time windows and uncertain travel times. Computers & Operations Research, 1: 1–12

Wang J, Lim M K, Zhan Y, Wang X (2020). An intelligent logistics service system for enhancing dispatching operations in an IoT environment. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 135: 101886

Wang K, Liang Y, Zhao L (2017a). Multi-stage emergency medicine logistics system optimization based on survival probability. Frontiers of Engineering Management, 4(2): 221–228

Wang Y, Bai X, Ou H (2017b). Design and development of intelligent logistics system based on semantic web and data mining technology. In: International Conference on Computer Network, Electronic and Automation (ICCNEA). Xi’an: IEEE, 231–235

Weyer S, Meyer T, Ohmer M, Gorecky D, Zühlke D (2016). Future modeling and simulation of CPS-based factories: An example from the automotive industry. IFAC-PapersOnLine, 49(31): 97–102

Xu W, Guo S, Li X, Guo C, Wu R, Peng Z (2019). A dynamic scheduling method for logistics tasks oriented to intelligent manufacturing workshop. Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 7237459

Yang S, Wang J, Shi L, Tan Y, Qiao F (2018). Engineering management for high-end equipment intelligent manufacturing. Frontiers of Engineering Management, 5(4): 420–450

Yao K, Yang B, Zhu X L (2019). Low-carbon vehicle routing problem based on real-time traffic conditions. Computer Engineering and Applications, 55(3): 231–237 (in Chinese)

Zhang G (2015). Large data and intelligent logistics. Journal of Transportation Systems Engineering and Information Technology, 15(1): 2–10, 233 (in Chinese)

Zhang H, Zhang Q, Ma L, Zhang Z, Liu Y (2019a). A hybrid ant colony optimization algorithm for a multi-objective vehicle routing problem with flexible time windows. Information Sciences, 1: 166–190

Zhang J, Liu Y, Zhao Y, Deng T (2020). Emergency evacuation problem for a multi-source and multi-destination transportation network: Mathematical model and case study. Annals of Operations Research, 291(1–2): 1153–1181

Zhang L (2016). Application of IoT in the supply chain of the fresh agricultural products. In: International Conference on Communications, Information Management and Network Security. Shanghai: Atlantis Press, 201–204

Zhang M, Fu Y, Zhao Z, Pratap S, Huang G Q (2019b). Game theoretic analysis of horizontal carrier coordination with revenue sharing in E-commerce logistics. International Journal of Production Research, 57(5): 1524–1551

Zhu D (2018). IoT and big data based cooperative logistical delivery scheduling method and cloud robot system. Future Generation Computer Systems, 1: 709–715

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

School of Business and Research Center for Smarter Supply Chain, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215021, China

School of Economics & Management, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qiwen Ye .

Additional information

This study is supported by the National Social Science Funds for Major Projects (Grant No. 18ZDA059) and Philosophy and Social Sciences of the Guangdong Province Planning Project (Grant No. GD20YGL03).

Rights and permissions

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made.

The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ .

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Feng, B., Ye, Q. Operations management of smart logistics: A literature review and future research. Front. Eng. Manag. 8 , 344–355 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42524-021-0156-2

Download citation

Received : 16 July 2020

Accepted : 29 January 2021

Published : 15 April 2021

Issue Date : September 2021

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s42524-021-0156-2

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• smart logistics
• operations management
• optimization
• Internet of Things
• Find a journal
• Publish with us
• Track your research