The study (Auramo et al., 2002) consisted of 5 stages as illustrated in the Figure 1. First, the preliminary E-Logistics Vision
was created based on the literature study to be used as a discussion guideline during the interviews (Stage 1).
Fifty focus interview sessions were organized, with 65 people interviewed in total (Stage 2). The interviews can be divided
into four categories: the leading edge companies (trade and manufacturing companies that have a reputation of being early adapters of
new business trends), logistics service companies, consultants and IT companies and researchers at universities and research centers.
The objective of the interviews was to determine the key research and development topics in the field of e-business logistics.
The preliminary vision was used as a discussion guideline, which became more defined during the interview process. However, the
interview sessions were kept unstructured and open to promote the free flow of ideas. The interviewees from industry, trade and