Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore how big data analytics (BDA) as a potential information technology (IT) innovation can facilitate the retail logistics supply chain (SC) from the perspective of outbound logistics operations in the United Kingdom. The authors' goal was to better understand how BDA can be integrated to streamline SCs and logistical networks by using the technology, organisational and environmental model.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors applied existing theoretical foundations for theory building based on semi-structured interviews with 15 SC and logistics managers.

Findings

The perceived benefits of using BDA in outbound retail logistics comprised the strongest predictor amongst technological, organisational and environmental issues, followed by top management support (TMS). A framework was proposed for the adoption of BDA in retail logistics. Contextual concepts from previous literature have helped us understand how environmental changes impact BDA decision-making, as such: (i) SC maturity levels and connectivity affect BDA utilisation, (ii) connected SCs improve data accessibility and information exchange, (iii) the benefits of BDAs also affect adoption and (iv) outsourcing complex tasks to experts allows companies to focus on core businesses instead of investing in IT infrastructure.

Research limitations/implications

Outside the key findings listed, this study shows that there is no one-size-fits-it-all approach for use within all organisational settings. The proposed framework reveals that the perceived benefit of BDA is non-transferrable and requires top-level management support for successful implementation.

Originality/value

The existing literature focusses on the approaches to applying BDA in SC and logistics but fails to present a deep dive into retail outbound logistics activity. This study addresses the “how” and proposes a social-inclusive framework for a technology-enabled topic.

中文翻译：

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大数据分析如何改善英国零售业的出库物流？定性研究

目的

本研究的目的是从英国出境物流运营的角度探讨大数据分析（BDA）作为一种潜在的信息技术（IT）创新如何促进零售物流供应链（SC）。作者的目标是更好地了解如何利用技术、组织和环境模型整合 BDA 以简化供应链和后勤网络。

设计/方法论/途径

作者基于对 15 名 SC 和物流经理的半结构化访谈，运用现有的理论基础进行理论构建。

发现

在出境零售物流中使用 BDA 的感知效益包括技术、组织和环境问题中最强的预测因素，其次是高层管理支持 (TMS)。提出了在零售物流中采用 BDA 的框架。先前文献中的背景概念帮助我们了解环境变化如何影响 BDA 决策，例如：(i) SC 成熟度水平和连接性影响 BDA 使用，(ii) 连接的 SC 提高数据可访问性和信息交换，(iii) 好处BDA 的数量也会影响采用，并且 (iv) 将复杂的任务外包给专家可以让公司专注于核心业务，而不是投资于 IT 基础设施。

研究局限性/影响

除了列出的主要发现之外，这项研究表明，没有一种万能的方法可以在所有组织环境中使用。拟议的框架表明，BDA 的感知效益是不可转让的，需要高层管理人员的支持才能成功实施。

原创性/价值

现有文献重点关注在供应链和物流中应用 BDA 的方法，但未能深入研究零售出站物流活动。这项研究解决了“如何”的问题，并为技术驱动的主题提出了一个社会包容性框架。