Title:

How Can Logistics Real Estate in Germany Leverage Technology to Support Third-Party
Logistics Providers?

Author:             
Mohamed Osama Helal Ahmed

Submitted to:

Liverpool John Moores University & HFT Stuttgart

In partial fulfilment of the requirements

for the degree of Executive Leadership MBA

Date:            
Winter semester 2022

Award:             
Best of 2022 by HFT Stuttgart

 

A growing number of companies are resorting to third-party logistics (TPL) providers to achieve customer satisfaction and survive in a tough competitive market. However, TPL providers are struggling to fulfil their requirements. They need to redefine their business models and find new solutions to increase their competitive advantage. Logistics real estate (LRE) can support TPL providers by increasing the value of the logistical properties. LRE can invest in equipping the logistical properties with technologies such as digital twin for the warehouse to help TPL providers be flexible in the redesigning the warehouse or performing traffic simulation to improve their operations. This study aimed to help LRE decide which technology to invest in by identifying the most prominent technologies for the TPL providers. It explored the challenges and future needs that TPL providers in Germany face and investigated which technologies can counter these challenges or satisfy the needs. The study introduced a tool to assess and compare different technologies in relation to their usefulness to the TPL providers. The study also extended its focus to capture the user of the logistical property acceptance of the technologies. This should help TPL providers understand how the users of the logistical properties perceive different technologies and how the TPL providers influence their perception. A hybrid technology acceptance model, which combined innovation diffusion theory, technology acceptance model and two more variables, was designed to capture the user’s behavioural intention to use technologies.