Drivers and barriers for achieving green benefits in digital logistics platforms

This paper highlights the emergence of digital logistics platforms as an opportunity to improve efficiency and mitigate climate impact. Digital logistics platforms are digital logistics marketplaces, matchmaking demand and supply of logistics services. Depending on the operational models of the platforms, additional services may be offered to improve operational efficiency and promote environmentally friendly options. However, to achieve these benefits, a closer collaboration and data sharing is expected between platform participants. Collaboration within the freight industry and utilising the potential of digital logistics platforms can contribute to improving operational efficiency and reduced environmental impact. Collaboration using digital logistics platforms relies on data sharing and collaboration to achieve benefits at a transport network level.
This research uses a combination of qualitative methods to provide a better understanding of digital logistics platforms’ potential as a measure for achieving green benefits in the transportation sector. This research reviews existing literature for possible benefits from participating in digital logistics platforms and collaboration approaches enabling access to said benefits. To support theoretical research, a series of workshops and interviews using semi-structured questionnaires were performed to engage logistics industry representatives and provide industry perspective on participation in digital logistics platforms. This paper provides insights into the drivers and barriers for participating in digital logistics platforms, emphasizing the role of regulations, cost reduction, and lower emissions as key drivers, and challenges related to trust, data sharing, and technical integration.
The research findings suggest that green benefits are not the main driver for participation in digital logistics platforms, however they can still be achieved by addressing other drivers. Digital logistics platforms may become a valuable tool for reducing CO2 emissions without heavy investment in vehicles and infrastructure, while also providing opportunities for cost reduction and improved operational efficiency.