Why Collaborate in a Physical Internet Network?—Motives and Success Factors

Abstract

The vision of the Physical Internet (PI) involves both sharing logistics resources and information exchange within an open network. The implementation of PI is seen as a promising contribution toward sustainable logistics. This paper investigates motives for and success factors in collaborating in a PI network. We apply an interpretive case‐based research approach involving four shippers and three logistics service providers (LSPs) that operate in a PI network. Motives are defined as the reasons that encourage an organization to enter the PI network. Success factors are conditions required for organizations to continue collaborating in a PI network. This is the first PI study conducted in a multi‐industry context. The findings demonstrate the central and neutral orchestration of resources (i.e., physical, digital/intangible, and relational resources) as a substantial and multi‐faceted issue in PI and continuous PI collaboration. A well‐accepted theory (Resource‐Based View) and its most recent extension (Resource Orchestration Theory—ROT) frame and guide our research. ROT informs the deployment of physical, digital/intangible, and relational resources by a neutral orchestrator in a PI network. The knowledge of motives and success factors allows the development of future user‐oriented PI services that are likely to be accepted by shippers and LSPs.

Physical Internet: First results and next challenges

“…The second paper from Michael Plasch, Sarah Pfoser, Markus Gerschberger, Regina Gattringer, and Oliver Schauer, is entitled “ Why collaborate in a Physical Internet Network? – Motives and Success Factors” ( Plasch et al 2021 ) . It empirically investigates the motives and success factors associated with collaborating in a PI network using both resource‐based view theory and resource orchestration theory.…”

The Interplay between the Physical Internet and Logistics: A Literature Review and Future Research Directions

“…As shown in Fig. 2 Several previous reviews focused on diverse PI themes, such as [4], [12]. In our study, we considered these themes.…”

“…This article details the systematic EU planning for the PI definition and the initial projects, ventures, tools that underpin the PI. [4] examine the reasons for accessing a PI network and the effectiveness of continuous cooperation variables in a PI network.…”

“…Similarly, new management approaches are necessary to reduce socioeconomic and ecological imbalances, prevent economic crises, and achieve sustainability [3]. In response to increasing globalisation and customer requirements, the focus of organisations has shifted to developing optimisation initiatives that reduce logistics and transport costs [4]. One way to achieve this objective is to integrate the Physical Internet (PI) in the logistics sector.…”

Expanding supply chain management and logistics research: A year in review

“…The papers published in 2021 also reflect a variety of data sources and the application of rigorous methodological approaches. Because of the novelty of many of the phenomena of interest, Volume 42 offered rich case studies that utilized both multiple cases (Ellram & Tate, 2021;Plasch et al 2021) and single cases (Gligor et al 2021;. Rich qualitative data were also used in a thematic analysis (Nath et al 2021).…”