On the other hand, there are not many papers which look
at the challenges faced by 3PL companies and address how
they can overcome such challenges. One paper by Min [27]
listed some of the challenges related to distribution but is
specifically for the Japan market. Some of the listed
challenges include overcoming the dominance of
wholesalers, understanding the complex structure of the
distribution channel and legal issues. This paper however,
attempts to identify and categorize the challenges faced by
3PL companies on a higher level and in a broader sense.
The challenges identified are grouped into different layers.
In each layer, the associated attributes are listed and
potential gaps are identified. Some of the challenges are
linked to the experience and information collected from the
interviews with two 3PL companies.