The Role of the Logistics Service Providers in the Improvement of the Nordic Logistics Networks - A Swedish perspective

Abstract: Nowadays managing efficient logistics networks often encounters difficulties. Different generations of Logistics Service Providers (LSP) attempt to overcome such difficulties not only by traditionally providing physical assets to their clients, but also through an integrated knowledge transfer of intellectual capital and information systems, and further design, coordinate and control agile logistics networks. In the context of logistics outsourcing, the main purpose of the research is to examine, describe and analyze the role of the different LSP entities in the improvement of the Nordic logistics networks. The study focuses on logistics outsourcing and the key-buying criteria being employed by the buyers of logistics services, and further investigates how the LSP industry contributes to the improvement of the Nordic logistics networks. The research is exploratory and based on qualitative observations, interviews and industry case studies, and its approach is mainly inductive. The results of the research indicate that in the era of globalization logistics outsourcing is a fast growing trend and business practice throughout the Nordic region as LSP actors can guarantee improved network performance within the existing IT-, knowledge- and environment-led economic environment.