Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to help third-party logistics providers solve the difficulties in implementing a new system for their information related operations. To fulfill this purpose, three research question have been made:

1. What makes the implementation of the information system difficult for third-party logistics providers?

2. What facilitates service transfer/implementation of the information system?

3. What are the guidelines for a successful implementation of an information system for a third-party logistics provider?

Method - A case study was conducted with a Swedish freight forwarder company with global presences where empirical data was collected through interviews and document analyses to fulfill the purpose of the paper. Furthermore, to make a theoretical support for the findings, a literature review was carried out. The empirical data and the result of literature review was being compared and analyzed to answer research questions.

Findings - The finding has been made in the order of establishing guidelines for third-party logistics providers, especially small-to-medium size enterprises, to make a successful as well as smooth implementation of a new system for information-related operations with the empirical data and literature review result as support. To begin with, a thorough analysis was made upon the characters of the implementation which will address the difficulties. The findings are mainly related to the processes of the implementation as well as the characters of third-party logistics providers that can cause the downforce. Then, since a better understanding of the initiation of the motivation for the organizations to make the implementation can help to make scientific and thorough guidelines, the findings of which will be presented. Lastly, all the data and analysis will be used to make guidelines for the organization regarding the implementation of a new system for their information-related operations.

Implications - Different studies within the areas related to the study have been made and the paper has made certain contributions to view them in a different perspective by conducting the study on a TPL company. Additionally, the study suggests that the findings have been conducted to solve one specific case which can be broadly used with the consideration of historical factors as well as customer alignment.

Limitations - This study focuses specifically on a case in Sweden. Generalization has been limited due to several variables: national differences, company size and transport services, etc. In addition, the third-party logistics industry has changed rapidly and the subsequent research also has a time limit that the author could not predict.

Keywords

Supply chain, Third party logistics, logistics, information flow, implementation, IT service management