[Logprofs] IJPDLM Special Issue Call for Papers

Wed Jan 31 10:00:14 EST 2018

Logistics and Distribution Innovations in China: The New Era
------------------------------

Special issue call for papers from International Journal of Physical
Distribution & Logistics Management

*Guest Editors:* Baofeng Huo (*Zhejiang University*), Haozhe Chen (*Iowa
State University*), and Henry Jin (*Miami University*)

Many people might not realize that China has become a fertile ground for
logistics and distribution innovations. Booming e-commerce is the driving
force of such development. China Daily recently reported that China’s
online sales in 2017 is approaching $1 trillion -- almost as much as in
America and Britain combined (Zhang, 2017). Already the world’s largest
e-commerce market, Goldman Sachs predicts that China’s online share of
total retail will continue to rise and will reach 31% by 2020 (The
Economist, 2017). In addition to the sheer size of e-commerce in China, the
trend highlights the changing behavior of Chinese consumers. It is
estimated that about 80% of adults in China’s biggest cities already shop
online. According to statista.com, in 2016 around 63.4% of the Chinese
mobile online population was using their mobile phones to shop online. This
is why The Economist contends that e-commerce in China is “sweeping the
board”.

Many Chinese companies are embracing the fast-changing market with great
enthusiasm. Instead of passively reacting to market conditions, many
leading Chinese firms are taking approaches by creating new business models
and processes. These new business models focus on devising innovative ways
of attracting consumers by fundamentally changing how consumers make their
purchases, pay for their products and have them delivered. As a result,
Chinese e-commerce giants are emerging. Alibaba is leading this transition.
The Economist suggests that Alibaba should be viewed as a combination of
Amazon, Twitter, eBay, and PayPal, but broader. Another leading firm is
Tencent that started its business in online gaming and messaging, but has
become a major competitor of Alibaba by capturing a significant portion of
the mobile-payment market. Unlike Alibaba, another Chinese e-commerce
company JD.com has developed its own distribution system to sell its own
inventory and that of third parties. The intentional blurring of consumers’
digital activities has enabled these Chinese companies to develop
innovative distribution and logistics systems.

Unfortunately, the rapid developments of ecommerce and innovative
multi-channel business models in China have not been adequately documented
and studied in Western literature. Accordingly, this special issue intends
to address that gap with meaningful, cutting-edge articles that highlight
distribution and logistics innovations in China. A better understanding of
these phenomena will be helpful for the growth of Chinese companies and
will provide critical ideas and prescriptions for practitioners and
scholars in other countries.

In line with IJPDLM’s long-time attention to logistics topics in China
(Chen, 2015), we therefore cordially invite scholars, executives and
academic/executive teams to submit articles to this special issue that
describe and examine the latest, up-to-date thinking and practices of
leading e-commerce firms in China. In addition to descriptive case studies,
we encourage different types of articles. Thus conceptual, qualitative, and
quantitative methods are all welcome. Potential topics include, but are not
limited to:

   - Innovative distribution and logistics models and processes
   - Case studies on omni-channel or multi-channel logistics and
   distribution innovations
   - Demand chain management and demand-supply integration in e-commerce
   and multi-channel contexts
   - Customer service interfaces and challenges in e-commerce and
   multi-channel contexts
   - Logistics and distribution network design in e-commerce and
   multi-channel contexts
   - Tracking, tracing and transparency in e-commerce and multi-channel
   contexts
   - Logistics and distribution analytics and big data analytics in
   e-commerce and multi-channel contexts
   - Sustainability considerations in e-commerce and multi-channel contexts
   - Returns management considerations in e-commerce and multi-channel
   contexts
   - Benchmarking and performance measurement in in e-commerce and
   multi-channel contexts
   - Supply chain risk management in e-commerce and multi-channel contexts

Manuscripts should be prepared following the normal author guidelines for
International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management and
may be submitted through the journal's online system.  Details on how to
submit and author guidelines can be found at:
http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=ijpdlm

Special Issue papers are due by *31 August, 2018*, but can be submitted as
soon as possible (please ensure you check the Logistics and Distribution
Innovation in Chins special issue option). Publication is anticipated in
2019.

All submitted papers deemed topically appropriate will undergo an expedited
International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management
review process. For questions about the appropriateness of topics, please
contact any of the Guest Editors below.

Guest Editors:

Baofeng Huo (Zhejiang University), baofeng at zju.edu.cn  <baofeng at zju.edu.cn>
Haozhe Chen (Iowa State University), hzchen at iastate.edu
<hzchen at iastate.edu>
Henry Jin (Miami University), jiny3 at miamioh.edu

References

   - Chen, H. (2015), “A message to Asian SCM and logistics scholars from
   IJPDLM”, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics
   Management, Vol. 45, No. 3, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-02-2015-0026.
   - The Economist (2017), “Online retail is booming in China: Alibaba
   demonstrates the benefits of breadth”, available at:
   https://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21730544-alibaba-demonstrates-benefits-breadth-online-retail-booming-china
   (accessed 30 December 2017).
   - Zhang, J. (2017), “China's online retail sales near $1t mark in 2017”,
   available at:
   http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2017-11/14/content_34521308.htm
   (accessed 30 December 2017).

Yao “Henry” Jin, Ph.D.

Neil R. Anderson Endowed Assistant Professor of

Supply Chain Management

Department of Management

Farmer School of Business

Miami University | Oxford, OH 45069

513-529-2158

Jiny3 at miamioh.edu
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