Logistics Engineering Management in the Platform Supply Chain: An Overview from Logistics Service Strategy Selection Perspective

Lin Chen; Ting Dong; Xiang Li; Xiaofeng Xu

doi:10.1016/j.eng.2024.12.032

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Engineering ›› 2025, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (4) : 236-249. DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2024.12.032

Research

Logistics Engineering Management in the Platform Supply Chain: An Overview from Logistics Service Strategy Selection Perspective

Lin Chen^a ,
Ting Dong^a ,
Xiang Li^b^,^* ,
Xiaofeng Xu^c

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Abstract

With the accelerated expansion of the platform economy, the supply chain has evolved into a new stage of the platform supply chain (PSC), which is deeply integrated with the platform economy. Logistics engineering management plays a crucial role in ensuring the efficient operation of PSCs and contributes to the construction of a global economic system. Given its importance to the efficiency of PSCs, the choice of logistics service strategy in logistics engineering management has attracted considerable scholarly attention. However, the current research is fragmented and lacks systematic analysis and synthesis. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of logistics engineering management in PSCs from the perspective of logistics service strategy selection from January 2005 to September 2024. To this end, we first review the research related to self-built logistics (SBL) and third-party logistics (3PL) in PSCs due to the complete independence of these two logistics service strategies. The results show that the following two topics are of great interest to researchers. One is the choice of the optimal logistics service strategy for the members of PSCs, while the other is the impact of factors related to logistics services on PSCs, including the channel selection, platform entry, sales model, and so forth. Next, we summarize the determinants influencing the choice between SBL and 3PL for the members of PSCs. The results indicate that the influencing factors are the service cost and service level, followed by the channel, brand, market potential, and competition. Then, on the basis of the themes of logistics service sharing (LSS), we review the research on LSS in PSCs, as LSS often emerges as an innovative model after a certain stage of development in SBL and 3PL. We find that LSS is regarded as an important complement to SBL and 3PL, with key research hotspots, including the channel, partner selection, and service competition. Service cost is a major factor influencing LSS, with competition, consumers’ logistics preference, and market potential being secondary factors. Finally, this paper outlines several important and promising directions for future research. This paper has important management implications for building a modern logistics system and promoting the transformation of PSCs.

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Keywords

Logistics engineering management / Platform supply chain / Logistics service strategy / Bibliometric analysis / Literature review

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Lin Chen, Ting Dong, Xiang Li, Xiaofeng Xu. Logistics Engineering Management in the Platform Supply Chain: An Overview from Logistics Service Strategy Selection Perspective. Engineering, 2025, 47(4): 236‒249 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2024.12.032

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