New trend of E-logistics
ZHANG Weixi1, WANG Jian-jun2,
(1 academe of Economy and society at Nankai University, Tianjin, China 300071
2 School of Management, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024)
Abstract: With the development of e-business and supply chain management, more and more logistic facilitators become the coordinators in the integrated supply chain. For overcoming the disconnection of information in the supply chain, the e-logistics based on information platform has appeared. In a broad scope the purpose of our paper intends to develop an understanding of the e-logistics. Firstly the paper describes the development of the logistics, analyzing the definition of the e-logistics, comparing the e-logistics with the traditional logistics from four aspects. Then it presents the core problems of the logistics and analyzes the levels of the informationization and integration. Finally the paper discusses two patterns of the e-logistics development. key words: E-logistics; supply chain; informationization; integration; pattern
1 Introduction
The development of logistics falls into three stages, namely military logistics, business logistics and e-logistics, in which the e-logistics has been the latest word appearing in the logistic industry.
Presently the e-logistics has been mostly defined according to the definition of Electronic Logistics, in which the most typical one is that electronic logistics refers to the process which utilizes web technology as an important tool to manage the whole logistic process or some sectors of it [1]; Prof. Zhai Xuewei regards e-logistics as the combination of logistics supporting e-commerce and the electronic technology for logistics [2]. Based on the above definitions and other literature, the author holds that e-logistics, namely e-logistic commerce, which has been characterized with electronic technology, network technology and automation, can be regarded as the integration of information flow, fund flow and logistical service. E-logistics realizes the utility of electronic technology and integration of logistic organization, trade, management and service modes. It is entitled to share data, knowledge and other information with partners in the supply chain[3 4]. Seen from these definitions, as e-logistics has been combined with the meaning of commerce, then it is also equipped with the same procedure of commerce from negotiation, contract signoff, payment, and implementation to balance counting and utilizes electronic technology in each step.
，
2 the Core Problems in the Development of E-logistics
As the basis of social economic run, logistics has been regarded as a complex macro-system because logistic activities are characterized with a wide coverage, fast-changing speed and various influential factors. In order to simplify its complexity, the author only analyzes the core of logistics, which is generally divided into five levels. (Seen in Table 1)
Management Level of Supply Chain
Collect and Share information in Conduct control in any the whole process; Make time and give feedback information visualized quickly ↓
Entity Level
Manufacturer
1
Service Supplier
Manufacturer
2
Service Supplier
…
…
…
…
…
…
Service Supplier
Manufacturer
n
↓
249
Make decisions optimize plans
1
1
and
Conduct management and realize operation simulation
