This study first explains major change in Chinese logistics market due to ‘Suggestions to speed up China logistics development' plan and WTO, then the theory of fundamentals for third party logistics (3PL) business and the insight for current SWOT a...
This study first explains major change in Chinese logistics market due to ‘Suggestions to speed up China logistics development' plan and WTO, then the theory of fundamentals for third party logistics (3PL) business and the insight for current SWOT analysis for the Korean 3PLs in Chinese market and my suggestions for its development are included.
The Chinese government, recently, recognised 'Logistics' as one of the core industry in economy, and therefore it made a vast amount of provide infrastructure to the industry and lowering its restrictions, for foreign investors and their business, is in motion. Meanwhile, the market envelopment is also changing. Traditional logistics system, which has separate suppliers for each functions (Transportation, Warehouse, Insurance, etc), is turning into more integrated system that can provide multiple function from one provider.
All these factors are making it more necessary than ever for the Korean 3PLs to develop more effective logistics system in the Chinese market to acquire competitive advantages.
But, despite the importance and the growth potential of the Chinese Market, the Korean 3PLs in China haven't been able to create a prosperous condition due to various reasons. That includes a lack of acknowledge for subcontractors itself and its quality management, insufficient mutual understanding about 3PLs, failure to meet customer's expectation and response to market change, improper human resource management, and low development on customer and other database management.
In addition, most of the Korean 3PLs in China is relatively small business. This fact made them to have a certain limitations of its sales and investment capability. Insufficient capability of investment, again, makes focusing on short-team response rather than long-term strategy. And only few large enterprises are investing in earnest.
Suggestions for the Korean 3PLs in China can be summarized in four categories as follows.
First, a form of business, Merger or strategic tie-up is essential to increase business volume, complement and resources. And also cooperation with other 3PLs is recommended to supplement functions. These will allow security of production resources and ultimately enhances competitive advantages.
For segmentation, providing services for every segment will be burden, and this approach won't guarantee success in any segment. What the Korean 3PLs should focus on is IT capability such as e-logistics. It will take more enhanced data-processing technology, logistics system. And human resource management should focus on developing both logistics and IT professionals so that advanced logistics capability based on IT technology can be served.
Geographical segmentation is also needed. Concerning China's extensive region, it is impossible to be categorized as single geographic segment. It is, for sure, the first priority to build logistics system in east coast (Shanghai) and northern area (Beijing, Tienjin). After that, remember region should e divided into nodes, and logistics system should be built in multiple nodes in order. Last step would be connecting each other. Although factor to consider is that the Chinese logistics system is expanding toward inland. This is the result of both the development of western area and domestic market opening. So not only east coast area but also inland area should be now considered as business area.
In matter of business scale, it is no surprise that general logistics company with asset fits more than small business, which has limitation in long-term strategy, in the Chinese market. It allows you more margin to establish and invest for long-term strategy. And also developing local and global services, categorized by region and industry, needs understanding, know-how, and information system. All of them strength of huge enterprise. Therefore large size with multi-function capability would bring advantage in competition.
Our research indicates that Korean 3PL business is based on providing logistics for Korean manufacturer. And they do not own transportation or logistics system by itself. To compete with global giant 3PLs with skill and reputation, Korean 3PLs option would be merger, strategic tie-up, and joint venture. Especially tie-up with the Chinese 3PL seems most effective and the potential for sharing core strength is high. This is because it could give specialization for cost decrease, synergy, acquired intelligence, increased customer service, risk management, creatively, and ultimately competitive advantage.
As wrote above, Korean 3PL's should keep in mind that tie-up with the Chinese 3PLs' would be more effective than sole entrance of the Chinese market, and in needs of manufactures.