Logistics Information Systems (LIS) on the Go-Mobile Apps and Social Media

Abstract

Logistics has evolved over the past few decades from transportation and warehousing to global Supply Chain Management (SCM). This requires the coordination of the flow of material, money and information. The velocity of doing business has increased and manual operations have been automated. Modern Logistic Information Systems (LIS) with all its logistics related sub systems are replacing muscle power with brain power and pencil and paper with smart phones and social media. The virtual aspect of logistics has become equally important to the physical realm of transportation and warehousing. Supply Chain Management (SCM) deals with getting the right stuff to the right people at the right time in the right amount. To accomplish this task there are a number of more or less integrated logistics software application. Demand forecasting models based on historical data from data marts and data warehouses with built in seasonality and pricing models. Load planning software to appropriately palletize, containerize and load trucks, trains and vessels. Route planning software with real time traffic and weather updates combined with Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to reduce transportation time and fuel costs. Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) to receive, put-away, store, receive and marshal the shipment. Electronic documents accompany the shipment from purchase order, letter of credit to customs clearing and back-haul charges. While these applications in the past have been mostly desktop applications used in the office at the management level, the move is to mobile applications. The footprint of LIS is getting smaller and is moving from the desktop to the Smartphone. At the core of any logistic information systems (LIS) is electronic communication. With the advent of the internet and social media personal communication has taken on other forms. With smart phones and tablets like the I-Phone and I-Pad e-commerce advanced to m-commerce. While technology enables the global supply chain, how do future logistics professionals feel about applying this cutting edge communication technology in their personal and professional lives? This quantitative study compares the aptitude of Thai logistics management students towards the use of social media and modern mobile telecommunication technology in their personal lives and in the context of professional use in connection with logistics information systems (LIS).