When the third party logistics has just been generally recognized by the world logistics community, a brand-new logistics concept "fourth party logistics" has aroused widespread concern in the industry. Because this is the general trend of the development of modern logistics industry, China logistics must vigorously develop the fourth party logistics if it wants to develop rapidly.
First, why should China vigorously develop the fourth party logistics?
Vigorously developing the fourth party logistics is determined by China's national conditions. The deficiency of the third-party logistics in China calls for the fourth-party logistics. The development of third-party logistics in China is slow. The existing transportation enterprises or storage enterprises in China, no matter how big they are, can't reflect the due scale effect. On the contrary, these enterprises have low operating efficiency and narrow profit margins. The reason is that enterprises are fighting in their own way and competing in disorder, so they can't integrate their strength to provide customers with standardized, whole-process and complete logistics management and services. If China simply develops third-party logistics enterprises, there will be many obstacles and disadvantages. If the fourth party logistics participates in the development of logistics industry in China, it will improve the overall level of logistics development in China and quickly shorten the gap with foreign logistics industry. Therefore, China should vigorously develop the fourth party logistics. The limitations of the third party logistics decide to develop the fourth party logistics. The limitations of third-party logistics are as follows: first, China's industrial and commercial enterprises have long formed a "big and complete" pattern, or enterprises have carried heavy burdens in the fierce competition. Repeated construction is not only not conducive to reducing production costs, but also has become an obstacle to the development of logistics. Secondly, most logistics enterprises in China have some problems, such as "small" (small scale of operation), "small" (small market share, few service functions and few high-quality talents), "weak" (weak competitiveness and financing ability) and "scattered" (unstable supply, single structure, scattered network and irregular operation order). Third, some enterprises want to set foot in the third-party logistics, but their functions are single and their management level is not high, which can not meet the requirements of the third-party logistics; Fourth, the third-party logistics is limited by its own capabilities, and logistics information and technology can't meet the logistics needs of the whole social system, let alone make full use of social resources. Fifthly, after China's entry into WTO, the third-party logistics companies in China will face the competition of multinational logistics companies, and it is difficult to achieve the comprehensive competitiveness in technical services in a short time. This requires a leading fourth-party logistics provider to provide a comprehensive supply chain solution, so as to integrate social logistics resources and form a comprehensive synergy of the logistics industry in China.
In addition, the advantages of the fourth party logistics determine that we should vigorously develop the fourth party logistics. The advantages of the fourth party logistics are:
1 has the advantages of integrated planning of the whole supply chain and logistics system. The advantage of third-party logistics lies in the practical operation ability of transportation, warehousing, packaging, loading and unloading, distribution and distribution processing, but there are obvious limitations in comprehensive skills, integrated technology, strategic planning and regional and global expansion ability, especially the lack of integrated planning for the whole supply chain and logistics system. The core competitiveness of the fourth party logistics lies in the ability to integrate the whole supply chain and logistics system, and it is also the fundamental place to reduce the logistics cost of customer enterprises.
2. As a leading logistics service provider, the fourth party logistics can integrate the best third party logistics service providers, management consulting service providers, information technology service providers and e-commerce service providers through its ability to influence the whole supply chain, so as to provide personalized and diversified supply chain solutions for customer enterprises and create excess value for them.
3. The operation of the fourth-party logistics company with the advantages of information and service network mainly depends on information and network. Its strong information technology support ability and extensive service network coverage support ability are highly valued by customer enterprises to explore domestic and foreign markets and reduce logistics costs, and are also the advantages of gaining customer trust and obtaining long-term large orders.
4. The fourth-party logistics company with talent advantage has a large number of high-quality international logistics and supply chain management professionals and teams, which can provide comprehensive and excellent supply chain management and operation for customer enterprises, provide personalized and diversified supply chain solutions, and implement logistics development strategies that are compatible with the company's strategy while solving the actual logistics business. Developing the fourth party logistics can reduce the capital investment and capital occupation of logistics. Through the fourth party logistics, enterprises can greatly reduce the capital investment in logistics facilities (such as warehouses, distribution centers, fleets, logistics service outlets, etc.). ), reduce capital occupation, improve capital turnover speed and reduce investment risk. Reduce inventory management and storage costs. The fourth party logistics company can achieve the goal of "zero inventory" in the supply chain through its excellent supply chain management and operation ability, and reduce the storage cost for all enterprises in the supply chain. At the same time, the fourth party logistics greatly improves the inventory management level of customer enterprises, thus reducing the inventory management cost. Developing the fourth party logistics can also improve the quality of logistics services and enhance the corporate image.
Second, the fourth party logistics in China's development status and obstacles
At present, the domestic fourth-party logistics is only a "conceptual" fourth-party logistics company, and some logistics companies, consulting companies and even software companies in the south all claim that their companies are engaged in "fourth-party logistics" services. These companies regard no fleet and no warehouse as a fashion; It claims to have information technology, but actually lacks the ability of supply chain design; Only regard the fourth party logistics as a business speculation model; Others directly equate consulting companies with fourth-party logistics companies.
Generally speaking, there is no fourth party logistics company in the strict sense in China, which is basically in the conceptual stage. Most of them are vulgar fourth-party logistics companies. The fundamental reason is that they don't really know what the fourth party logistics is, and they don't make an in-depth investigation and analysis on whether China really needs the fourth party logistics at present. They just stay in the stage of commercial speculation. At present, the development of China's fourth-party logistics faces many obstacles, which are difficult to overcome in a short time. The main obstacles are: (1) the market demand of the fourth party logistics in China is insufficient; (2) China's fourth-party logistics foundation is insufficient; (3) Lack of customer recognition and trust; (4) The logistics information platform is backward; (5) Lack of talents.
Third, how does China develop the fourth party logistics?
The development of the fourth party logistics in China has a long way to go, and it must be planned as a whole and implemented step by step. The following are some suggestions from authoritative logistics experts:
1. Develop third-party logistics to provide a foundation for fourth-party logistics. Only by vigorously developing the third-party logistics enterprises can the fourth-party logistics have a development foundation, and China is still in the primary stage of developing the third-party logistics. International third-party logistics companies have not been allowed to operate real third-party logistics business in China. State-owned logistics companies have not yet completed the transformation of operating mechanism, private third-party logistics companies are emerging, but they are not yet full-fledged, and it has not yet formed a climate for manufacturing enterprises to outsource logistics to third parties. Therefore, vigorously developing the third-party logistics is the most important measure to improve the development level of China's logistics industry at present, and it is also a necessary prerequisite for developing the fourth-party logistics.
2. Establish a nationwide logistics public information platform. At present, China is advancing the process of informatization, and the logistics industry plays an important role in China's economy. The best way to combine booming e-commerce with modern logistics industry is to establish a national public platform for logistics industry, and integrate the resources of logistics enterprises (including third-party logistics enterprises) through the Internet, so that the logistics industry in China can be truly upgraded qualitatively. Only in this way can we calmly cope with the competition of multinational logistics companies after China's entry into WTO. At present, there are many logistics enterprises that use the Internet to conduct business in China, but few of them can integrate certain social resources and have a certain social impact. Therefore, the current task is to cultivate a logistics information platform with the embryonic form of the fourth party logistics and a certain foundation in integrating logistics resources, so that it can develop into the fourth party logistics.
3. We should speed up the training of logistics talents and increase the introduction of logistics talents. At present, the lack of talents familiar with the fourth-party logistics and effective management in China leads to the low utilization rate of logistics resources, which has become a major problem in the development of China's logistics industry. Therefore, it is necessary to change the talent mechanism in the current logistics system, vigorously introduce and cultivate logistics talents who master the knowledge of the fourth party logistics, and form a backbone team of entrepreneurs and logistics management who adapt to the development of modern logistics industry, so as to promote and ensure the smooth implementation of the fourth party logistics in China in the future and improve the overall level of China's logistics industry.
4. Innovative logistics enterprises adapt to the new trend of modern logistics development. The fourth party logistics puts forward higher requirements for logistics enterprises, and the innovation of logistics enterprises is imperative. The first is the renewal of ideas and a correct understanding of modern logistics. Secondly, we should pay attention to the research and development of logistics distribution technology and equipment, reduce logistics costs and improve logistics distribution efficiency. Finally, we should attach importance to the research and exchange of logistics theory and speed up the process of logistics rationalization and modernization.
5. The government should make overall planning and do a good job in logistics infrastructure. The real promotion of China's logistics industry must be accomplished through the fourth party logistics. The government should strengthen overall planning, attach importance to the investment and construction of logistics facilities, and consolidate the foundation of logistics distribution. The third-party logistics enterprise itself is the "profit point" of the logistics industry, and it can survive by its own development law, while the fourth-party logistics plays an extremely important role in integrating social resources and upgrading the logistics industry, and its development plays an important role in promoting or restricting economic development, commodity circulation and mass consumption. Therefore, in the logistics industry policy, we should focus on logistics infrastructure.
6. Promote the concept of the fourth party logistics and gain the recognition and trust of customers. In China, even the third-party logistics is not popular. As a new concept of logistics, the fourth party logistics may not be clear to many enterprises, and there is no recognition and trust at all. Therefore, it is the primary task at this stage to popularize the concept of the fourth party logistics and let domestic enterprises know and understand the fourth party logistics in order to gain their recognition and trust.
The fourth party logistics is the development trend of modern logistics. Although it has just emerged in China, it will surely grow sturdily in the future and make great contributions to the rapid and healthy development of logistics and economic construction in China. Let's look forward to this day.