Toward a Multi-Sided Model of Service Quality for Logistics Service Providers

The Impact of Collaborative Communication on the Physical Distribution Service Quality of Soft Drinks: A Case Study of Beverage Manufacturing Companies in Greece

This research aimed to use the collaborative communication aspects of information sharing, incentive alignment, and decision synchronization to explain physical distribution service quality in the soft drink demand chain. The research was prompted by a desire to learn more about a topic that has received little attention in Greece while also contributing information about the variables that influence the performance of soft drink distribution networks. Manufacturers in Greece provided the data. The aspects of collaborative communication were significant determinants of the physical distribution service quality. Physical distribution service quality was shown to be significantly predicted by incentive alignment and information sharing, but not by decision synchronization. This research shows that collaborative communication aspects such as information sharing, decision synchronization, and incentive alignment enhance physical distribution service quality in soft drink demand chains. The research used a primary sample of 200 study participants from different drink manufacturing plants around Greece. In our research, we focused on vertical cooperation between manufacturers and distributors and its effect on physical distribution service quality. This is a relatively unexplored topic in the developing world. According to the scholars cited in the literature review, information exchange, incentive alignment, and decision synchronization improve physical distribution service quality in demand chains.

Exploring relationships between service quality dimensions and customers satisfaction: empirical study in context to Indian logistics service providers

Purpose

This study aims to identify service quality dimensions for logistics service providers (LSPs) and to examine their relationships with customer satisfaction and customer loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

Service quality dimensions are identified from vast literature review. Customers who take services from LSPs were surveyed to collect data on basis of developed survey instrument. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is applied to test the proposed research hypotheses.

Findings

The study shows that all the five service quality constructs, i.e. “Operational Quality”, “Resource Quality”, “Information Quality”, “Personnel Contact Quality” and “Customization and Innovation Quality” have direct relationship with customer satisfaction. They also have indirect relationship with customer loyalty, implying the full mediation of customer satisfaction.

Practical implications

The results of the study suggest that the logistics service quality (LSQ) can be measured multi-dimensionally. It provides clear implications to LSPs for improvement of service quality. The present research work is expected to be useful for both, logistics service providers and the customer organizations, which take services from LSPs. LSPs can develop strategies to improve their service quality on basis of findings from this study.

Originality/value

The present research will help in extending the existing literature on service quality in context to LSPs.

A 3-Dimensional Frame of Reference for Prevention of Risk in Supply Chain

Businesses have to deal with many potential risks in the supply chain, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The retail market in Vietnam has great potential for long-term development with the birth and rapid development of domestic supermarkets. However, market opening policies have resulted in fierce competition from a large number of foreign supermarkets. At the same time, customers have become more professional in their approach to shopping and carefully consider any decisions about shopping and the use of services at supermarkets. In this study, the authors use three models (i.e., the SERVQUAL model, the binary logistic model, and the Grey model) corresponding to a three-dimensional frame of reference (i.e., past, present, and future) to provide supermarket managers with a multi-dimensional view of the supermarket business situation. The results identify four factors−namely, quality of goods, personnel, safety, and facilities and equipment−that significantly impact customer satisfaction. The second frame of reference shows that factors such as age, academic level, and income affect the decision to reuse any service at the supermarket. The third frame of reference provides supermarket managers with forecast data about the supermarket business situation for 2021 to 2024. These results provide a solid foundation for supermarket managers seeking to develop strategies and take measures to adjust business activities to achieve the best business efficiency and avoid potential risks in the company’s supply chain. In addition, the results of this study are valuable references for researchers in the fields of customer service, supply chain management, and customer behavior. In particular, the factors obtained in this study will greatly strengthen the scientific value of the service sector and the model of retail supermarkets in Vietnam and other countries around the world. In fact, the business strategy of supermarkets still depends on the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, in the future, it is necessary to combine the results of this study with the experience of managers to develop the right business strategies and achieve further results and sustainable development.