CONCLUSIONS
This paper was divided into two parts. The first part of the paper summarized the categorization and prioritization of the most crucial
R&D topics that should be dealt with in order to help enterprises to face the new logistics challenges of e-business. On the second part
of the paper a research agenda towards supply networks was presented with three themes to support the development of e-business
logistics. In order to achieve efficiency and operational quality in supply networks we suggest three interrelated R&D themes:
?? integrated supply network structure with suitable visibility and collaborative usage of real-time data;
?? research and development of new logistics service concepts and their effect on the whole supply network; and
?? research on the effects and possibilities of using new identification methods in the supply network.
The R&D initiatives in these fields ought to be interdisciplinary and cover a wide range of business related issues. There
ought to be space for development initiatives with both shorter and longer time span. In addition to the R&D initiatives aiming to
develop new technologies it is as important to study the opportunities to utilize currently available and emerging technologies and
innovations in supply networks. However, new technologies are enablers to network integration, successful interaction requires
confidence and excellent professional skills from the various supply network partners