Supply Chain and ICT Issues of Estonia: Survey Findings

Ain Kiisler; Tomi Solakivi; Olli-Pekka Hilmola

doi:10.1016/j.procs.2020.09.078

Supply Chain and ICT Issues of Estonia: Survey Findings

Procedia Comput Sci. 2020:176:828-837. doi: 10.1016/j.procs.2020.09.078. Epub 2020 Oct 2.

Authors

Ain Kiisler¹, Tomi Solakivi², Olli-Pekka Hilmola³

Affiliations

¹ Tallinn University of Technology (Taltech), Estonian Maritime Academy, Kopli 101, 11712 Tallinn, Estonia.
² University of Turku, Turku School of Economics, Rehtorinpellonkatu 3, FIN-20500, Turku, Finland.
³ LUT University, Kouvola Unit, Prikaatintie 9, FIN-45100 Kouvola, Finland; and Tallinn University of Technology (Taltech), Estonian Maritime Academy, Kopli 101, 11712 Tallinn, Estonia.

Abstract

Logistics and supply chain management are critical for economic sustainability. In this research, we aim to identify the most critical factors to logistics and supply chain performance for a small open economy by reporting survey results from Estonian manufacturing, trading and logistics service companies. By comparing survey results from 2012 and 2018, we also analyze how these critical factors may have changed during the last years. In the survey, the significance of competitiveness, functionality of logistics, and information and communication technologies (ICT) among others were included. The results indicate that the importance of factors such as purchasing, demand forecasting and operations planning have increased. Overall, purchasing and demand forecasting are considered more important than other factors. Surprisingly, logistics was considered less vital in 2018 than in 2012. Most of the current challenges in companies arise from demand management (forecasting and planning), increasing labour costs and regulatory changes. On ICT side change has been from traditional communications more towards digital, and especially using specific platforms (portals, intranet/extranet).

Keywords: Estonia; ICT; Logistics; supply chain management; survey.