3.1 IT contribution to the value chain
The use of Porter’s value chain model requires the definition of a specific company; we consider
a “model” Logistics Service Provider (LSP) that provides multi-modal transportation
services, that manages a fleet and a storage capacity (owning it or not), and that handles international
operations.
This hypothesis has several advantages:
- It puts the different systems and technologies in an understandable context;
- It makes explicit links and synergies between different systems;
- It provides a comprehensive view of the pervasive use of IT, including its use in socalled
support activities.
- It represents dominant characteristics of e-logistics solutions customers5
.
The results are illustrated in figure 2.