Sustainable technology strategies for transportation and logistics challenges : an implementation feasibility study

Abstract

Transportation and logistics are the basic building blocks in the socio-economic development of a country. The pandemic altered the landscape of the transportation and logistics sector where organizations had to look for new technology-based solutions. Block chain and digital trucking are emerging concepts, which were further accelerated by COVID-19, to manage the challenges in the transportation and supply chain industry. This study, therefore, investigates the challenges faced by the transportation industry during and post COVID-19 and, consequently, identifies relevant sustainable strategies to combat these challenges in a developing-economies context. Data were collected through interviews from 20 key personnel working in managerial positions in the transportation industry of Pakistan, a developing economy. The findings of this study indicate that the challenges faced by the transportation industry are reduced import–export, local market orders and revenues, supply limited to a few edible items, increase in e-commerce, new entrants in the market and operational issues, such as lack of standard operating procedures (SOPs), performance management and training of drivers. These challenges were more pronounced in the COVID-19 era; however, they are still impacting the industry. Thus, in the post-COVID-19 era, transportation companies need to opt for efficient strategies, such as contactless deliveries, expansion in e-commerce, tech-based performance management of drivers and digital trucking for sustainability, in a developing economy’s transportation and logistics sector.