Better information provision is needed to make sharing in logistics the standard. At companies like Stockspots or Royal Vezet, sharing logistics is already being used. However, the majority of companies in the sector are not aware of the possibilities and benefits for their own operations.
Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, in cooperation with TKI Dinalog, is conducting research into the sharing economy in logistics. Within the project group 'Sharing Logistics in Transportation and Warehousing', the prevailing views on sharing logistics were examined, among other things. It also investigated the reasons why companies do not yet use deellogistics.
Unknown makes unloved
The conclusion: unknown makes unloved. Interviews revealed that companies in the sector are in the dark about the applicability of the concept. Additional research and marketing efforts are needed to increase that knowledge. "Companies are afraid of the unknown which is often caused by a lack of information and knowledge," argues Kelly van der Elst, who wrote her thesis on the study.
Applicability
It is also important to make the concept easy to apply. This can be done with a checklist that shows companies exactly what is needed to implement partial logistics in their company. This includes a scan of the current business model, a detailed calculation of the main costs and benefits and an overview of all demand patterns, so that it becomes clear at which moments a company is not fully utilised. The company can then decide whether it already wants to include sharing logistics in the business model or wants to do further research first.
Sharing of underutilised assets is not new and is already used in many other industries, concludes Van der Elst. "Therefore, the logistics sector can be the next focus of change, but only if companies are willing to take that extra step."
