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The company-customer transfer of logistics activities

Author

Listed:
  • Aurélien Rouquet

    (CRET-LOG - Centre de Recherche sur le Transport et la Logistique - AMU - Aix Marseille Université)

  • Kiane Goudarzi

    (Laboratoire de Recherche Magellan - UJML - Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3 - Université de Lyon - Institut d'Administration des Entreprises (IAE) - Lyon)

  • Tatiana Henriquez Henriquez

    (Département de marketing [ESC Troyes] - Groupe ESC Troyes en Champagne)

Abstract

Purpose The starting point of the paper is the fact that customers participate in the logistics activities of the supply chain (SC) (Johnston, 1989; Granzin and Bahn, 1989). Having established that customers can and do participate in logistics, firms can consider transferring some of their logistics activities to/from their customer. The transfer can take two contrasting forms: outsourcing by the company of some logistics activities to its customers or insourcing by the company of some logistics activities from its customers. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to a theoretical understanding of these company/customer transfers. Design/methodology/approach To address this emerging issue, the authors build on the service management literature and on the study of two contrasting cases of transfer. The first (IKEA) examines the outsourcing of some logistics activities to the consumer. The second (AuchanDrive) examines the reverse process of insourcing. Findings Based on the service management literature and the two case studies, the authors develop a theoretical model for the transfer of logistics activities between a firm and its customers. The findings confirm several elements, such as the importance of managing customer participation and adapting service production during a transfer. Most importantly, the findings show that a key issue for a firm during a transfer is the need to redesign its SC in terms of transport, warehousing and production. The main contribution of the research therefore is showing that customer participation in logistics is a key variable in SC design. Research limitations/implications This research is based on the analysis of two cases. To generalise these results, further research needs to be conducted. Practical implications This research proposes recommendations to help managers and organisations to transfer some logistics activities to or from their customers. Originality/value The originality of the framework is that it considers both the company and its customers. This comprehensive approach establishes a link between supply chain management research and marketing.

Suggested Citation

  • Aurélien Rouquet & Kiane Goudarzi & Tatiana Henriquez Henriquez, 2017. "The company-customer transfer of logistics activities," Post-Print hal-01518138, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01518138
    DOI: 10.1108/IJOPM-01-2015-0049
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Schnurr, Benedikt & Wetzels, Martin, 2020. "The conditional enjoyment-enhancing effect of shipping box aesthetics," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    2. Jafari, Hamid & Eslami, Mohammad H. & Paulraj, Antony, 2022. "Postponement and logistics flexibility in retailing: The moderating role of logistics integration and demand uncertainty," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    3. Antoine Kauffmann & Claire Capo & Frank Guerin & Sonia Froufe, 2022. "End-user profile and sensitiveness to supply chains: implications for consumer goods in France," Post-Print hal-03706085, HAL.
    4. Wang, Xueqin & Wong, Yiik Diew & Liu, Feng & Yuen, Kum Fai, 2023. "Consumers' paradoxical motives of co-creation: From self-service technology to crowd-sourcing platform," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    5. Wang, Xueqin & Wong, Yiik Diew & Shi, Wenming & Yuen, Kum Fai, 2022. "Shoppers’ logistics activities in omni-channel retailing: A conceptualisation and an exploration on perceptual differences in effort valuation," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 195-208.

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