Understanding Coordination Drivers to Align Last-Mile Logistics with Supply Chain Objectives: A Case in the Retail Sector
Subject Areas : Transportation Analysis
Emmanuel Lara
1
,
Wilson Adarme
2
,
Ivan Cardenas
3
1 -
2 -
3 -
Keywords: Coordination, Coordination mechanisms, Last Mile, Logistics, Supply Chain,
Abstract :
With the boom of e-commerce, urbanization, and population growth, the complexity of the last mile in the supply chain (SC) has increased, forcing companies to evaluate new distribution strategies and face emerging logistical challenges. Coordination mechanisms have emerged as a potential solution to address these challenges. However, if the overall supply chain strategy is not considered, the implementation of coordination mechanisms may create conflicts in logistics operations. Existing studies on coordination mechanisms in last-mile logistics have often been constrained by a lack of practical applications, underscoring the need to consider all supply chain actors and their roles to avoid inefficient diagnoses in applying coordination practices.
This study proposes a three-phase methodology to diagnose the needs of last-mile logistics. In the first phase, coordination drivers are identified through a literature review and subsequently validated by both industry professionals and academics. In the second phase, the level of incidence of each driver is assessed within the specific context of the company. Finally, in the third phase, coordination mechanisms are proposed to enhance supply chain performance based on the incidence levels identified. The methodology was validated through a case study in the city of Bogota.
The findings highlight the importance of identifying existing coordination drivers within a company and evaluating how well they align with the overall supply chain strategy. For logistics practitioners, the results provide practical guidance on evaluating and selecting coordination mechanisms that suit their operational needs. For scholars, this research demonstrates how coordination can be applied in industries in developing economies and outlines the challenges of aligning coordination practices with the context of such companies.
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