Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide new insights into the reactions and lessons learned with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of how logistics service providers (LSPs) managed to maintain supply chains resilience and what focus areas have been changed to keep operations functional and uphold financial stability.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on data-gathering techniques in interpretive research this study collected primary data via semi-structured interviews, interviewing informants from selected LSPs that operate on a global scale.

Findings

The results show that LSPs have built their reactions and actions to the COVID-19 outbreak around five main themes: “create revenue streams,” “enhance operational transport flexibility,” “enforce digitalization and data management,” “optimize logistics infrastructure” and “optimize personnel capacity.” These pillars build the foundation to LSP resilience that enables supply chains to stay resilient during an external shock of high impact and low probability.

Originality/value

The results of this study provide insights into how LSPs have managed the downsides and found innovative ways to overcome operational and financial challenges during the COVID-19 outbreak. As one of the first studies that specially focuses on the role of LSPs during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study categorizes the LSPs’ reactions and provides a “lessons learned” framework from a managerial perspective. From a theoretical perspective, this paper discusses the strategic role of LSPs in supply chain management and thereby extends current supply chain literature with a focus on LSP resilience.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 和对供应链弹性的追求：来自物流服务提供商 (LSP) 的反应和“经验教训”

目的

本文的目的是提供有关 COVID-19 大流行的反应和经验教训的新见解，包括物流服务提供商 (LSP) 如何设法保持供应链弹性以及哪些重点领域已发生变化以保持运营功能和维护金融稳定。

设计/方法/方法

基于解释性研究中的数据收集技术，本研究通过半结构化访谈收集了原始数据，采访了在全球范围内运营的选定 LSP 的线人。

发现

结果表明，LSP 围绕五个主要主题建立了对 COVID-19 爆发的反应和行动：“创造收入流”、“提高运营运输灵活性”、“实施数字化和数据管理”、“优化物流基础设施”和“优化人员能力。” 这些支柱为 LSP 弹性奠定了基础，使供应链能够在高影响和低概率的外部冲击中保持弹性。

原创性/价值

这项研究的结果提供了关于 LSP 如何管理不利因素并找到创新方法来克服 COVID-19 爆发期间的运营和财务挑战的见解。作为特别关注 LSP 在 COVID-19 大流行期间的作用的首批研究之一，本研究对 LSP 的反应进行了分类，并从管理的角度提供了“经验教训”框架。从理论角度，本文讨论了 LSP 在供应链管理中的战略作用，从而扩展了当前供应链文献，重点关注 LSP 弹性。