Trends in digitalization of intralogistics and the critical success factors of its implementation

Abstract

Goal: Digitalization is a maior trend in intralogistics, both for academia and for the industry. This paper gives an overview on current intralogistic trends, the critical success factors of digitalization projects in intralogistics and the results of an online survey regarding these trends and success factors. Design / Methodology / Approach: Literature reviews for both intralogistic trends and the success factors of the implementation were validated using an online survey with 105 intralogistic professionals, both from academia and industry. Results: Both trends and success factors could be validated and brought into a ranking regarding their importance. Limitations of the investigation: The online survey had a limited number of respondends and, even though all trends were provided with a short explanation, different interpretations or understandings of trends and success factors might have been present. Moreover, some trends and success factors have a certain overlap and the differences are not always clear. Practical implications: The survey and the description of intralogistic trends and success factors allow practitioners to better understand, structure and prioritize their implementation projects and possibly to increase their success rate. Originality / Value: There are several studies on general logistic trends and a few studies regarding success factors for digitalization, mostly in the field of ERP implementation. The presented research and online survey are a contribution to the specific field of trends and success factors in digitalization of intralogistics.