| Abstract [eng] |
The research underlines the transformative potential of digital solutions in supply chain organisations, highlighting their key role in improving process efficiency and companies` competitiveness. The role of a forwarding company is important within the overall supply chain as it is responsible for managing the flow of information. However, as a part of the supply chain network, the forwarding company faces many general supply chain challenges, such as fragmentation, lack of visibility, underutilised resources and costly manual processes. By providing real-time data-driven solutions for freight transport, financial technology (FinTech) has the potential to improve the global competitiveness of the trade and logistics industry. Therefore, the term digital solutions is used in this research as the main term for both digital and FinTech solutions. This research aims to identify and assess the risks of digital solutions for forwarding companies to optimise their processes. A comprehensive analysis reveals the most important digital solutions and associated risks. The survey results of forwarding companies indicate an ongoing implementation of digital solutions, with invoice automation leading the way. A case study using the AHP method identifies a "document flow and management system" as a promising solution, demonstrating significant time and cost savings. Risks analysis based on the results of respondents` responses and a case study of a selected forwarding company shows that "employee resistance to digital technology adoption in logistics" risk has the highest probability and impact score and must be considered when implementing digital solutions. Future research directions include exploring emerging digital and FinTech solutions, analysing the associated benefits and risks, conducting longitudinal studies, and performing comprehensive cost-benefit analyses for implementation in forwarding companies. |
