ESCF Student Projects: eCommerce, Digital Transformation or Sustainability (White Papers)
The European Supply Chain Forum is offering students the opportunity to work on some of the most important and pressing business challenges the industry is facing together with its academic research directors as well as professionals in some of the leading companies in the European logistics market.
After carefully reviewing major trends with the logistics practices of the top management consulting companies the ESCF has selected 3 topics that are considered both urgent and important by both providers and users of logistics and supply chain services.
Each of these topics will have its own team with a master student driving the content development. Academic research directors will provide guidance as you engage with business leaders and management consultants to develop your hypothesis and conduct insightful research and analysis.
The outcome will be published as a white paper by the ESCF through various channels and in various formats. You will be able to use your work for your master thesis and/or earn internship credits.
This is an excellent opportunity to work with both academic and business leaders to create insights into areas that are of high value to the industry, while getting exposure to the logistics market that awaits you after you graduate.
It may be possible to conduct the research from the TU/e. However, you are encouraged to work with companies on location if necessary. As the intention is to work with leading companies in Europe this may involve spending time abroad. If and where this is will be determined later in the process.
Topic 1: eCommerce and the future of the last mile
Context
eCommerce, both B2C and B2B, has made big changes to the economies the world over. Besides the onslaught of pure play e-Tailers, incumbent businesses, big and small, are converting sales from brick-and-mortar to eCommerce channels. It has turned logistics into a core part of the business value proposition where supply chain capabilities can determine success or failure. Each company has a different approach to dealing with omni-channel logistics and distribution and a stable state is not yet in sight. It is a balancing act between the interests of the shippers, consignees, logistics service providers and the regulatory framework in which they operate. Some practices are becoming more common (e.g., drop shipping, direct injection, time window delivery, lockers) while companies continue to experiment with new innovations (e.g., robotics in fulfilment and delivery, dark stores, ultra-fast delivery).
Research description
In this white paper you explore the challenges and trends related to last mile deliveries, particularly in the case of B2C, from the perspective of the merchant, shipper and consignee. It looks at the different delivery models today (to home, PUDO, lockers) and assesses them from the point of view of the 3 stakeholders. Looking at emerging innovations a possible future last mile landscape is predicted.
Approach
After reviewing relevant existing research that is available at the TU/e you will develop first hypotheses that you discuss with your academic director and business mentor. With his support you will conduct interviews with relevant companies and work with them to validate your hypotheses in a qualitative and/or quantitative way. The insights and outcome will be published both as a white paper and as an academic paper such as your master thesis.
Lead Research Director: Layla Martin, Tom Van Woensel
Business Mentor: Kim MacGillavry
Topic 2: Digital Transformation: Optimizing the end-to-end customer supply chain
Context
There is a lot of data involved in logistics, most of it is compartmentalized in different systems of different departments in a company and its suppliers. Being able to aggregate the data along the supply chain allows companies to analyze them and make business improvements, both operationally as well as commercially. Where companies tend to focus on applying data science to their operational data to optimize their operations and save costs it is proving more difficult to aggregate and connect customer data in a meaningful way. Combining both effectively is becoming business critical for companies to achieve the operational agility and customer centricity needed to compete going forward.
Research description
This white paper looks at the different ways companies are using data to improve their business model both from an operational efficiency and cost perspective as well as from a customer centricity and commercial perspective. It looks at best practices where combining operational and customer data has led to better insights to optimize the business. Using these examples an outline of capabilities that are required to transform the business model are presented.
Approach
After reviewing relevant existing research that is available at the TU/e you will develop first hypotheses that you discuss with your academic director and business mentor. With his support you will conduct interviews with relevant companies and work with them to validate your hypotheses in a qualitative and/or quantitative way. The insights and outcome will be published both as a white paper and as an academic paper such as your master thesis.
Lead Research Director: Remco Dijkman, Zumbul Atan
Business Mentor: Kim MacGillavry
Topic 3: Sustainability & Circularity: Logistics as an enabler of the circular economy
Context
Many manufacturing companies are looking at ways to make the lifecycle of their products longer and avoid waste. A lot of attention is going to the product design to build in the modularity needed to avoid returns & repair as well as obsolescence. However, the logistics industry has not been pro-active to anticipate and enable circular business models. Without new supply chain capabilities that support a circular economy it will not be possible to achieve it.
Research description
This white paper takes a pro-active look at the role logistics can and should take to anticipate the needs and requirements of a circular economy. It aims to provide different logistics set-ups and solutions that manufacturers could make use of when developing their circular business models and thereby help to accelerate the process.
Approach
As this is a new topic with less available research to refer to at the TU/e the focus is first on developing a detailed research charter with the relevant academic directors. You will discuss this with your business mentor and conduct interviews with relevant stakeholders at companies across Europe. Depending on the outcome you may be asked to work with a company to develop a use case example. The insights and outcome will be published both as a white paper and as an academic paper such as your master thesis.
Lead Research Director: Neomie Raassens, Sarah Gelper.
Business Mentor: Kim MacGillavry