The "2024 Cross-border E-commerce Competitiveness Research Report—Logistics Enterprises" is released by the World Internet Conference, focusing on an in-depth study of the competitiveness of cross-border e-commerce logistics enterprises. The report provides detailed core conclusions, research framework, and result analysis, offering key guidance and practical reference for the development of cross-border e-commerce logistics.
1. Core Conclusions
- Transportation timeliness as a core factor for strengthening competitiveness: Consumers are increasingly demanding faster delivery of cross-border goods, prompting logistics enterprises to optimize transportation timeliness through multiple strategies. For example, Robinson formulates distribution strategies based on geography and other factors, using self-developed systems to improve efficiency; FedEx expands direct flight routes to open up markets; UPS collaborates with Brazilian airlines to launch dedicated routes, adjust capacity, and promote value-added services; SF Express uses RFID technology to achieve real-time cargo monitoring and tracking, enhancing delivery and customs clearance speed.
- End-to-end services highlight global resource integration capabilities: Cross-border logistics end-to-end services include pickup, trunk transportation, sorting, and delivery, enabling seamless connection of logistics links and reducing transit time. Most sample enterprises possess this capability, some through independent construction, others through cooperation. Cainiao integrates global partner resources and intelligently optimizes each link; France International Express Parcel Company expands online pickup and builds a complete service process through multi-party cooperation.
- Diversified transportation services strengthen the logistics moat: The circulation needs of cross-border e-commerce goods are diverse, and enterprises build networks covering various transportation modes and customized solutions, leveraging the complementary advantages of multimodal transport. CJ integrates resources to select transportation combinations based on cargo timeliness and quantity; Geodis launches cross-border small parcel services to ensure timely delivery; DHL provides corresponding transportation services according to product characteristics.
- Flexible and professional warehousing becomes a new path for differentiated competition: Internationally renowned logistics enterprises use advanced warehouse management systems to intelligently arrange and accurately manage inventory based on multiple cargo factors. Some Chinese enterprises stand out with their "overseas warehouse" services, helping merchants respond quickly to orders, allocate goods, and handle returns, exchanges, and repairs. Maersk deploys overseas warehouses and distribution networks in the US and Europe, promoting comprehensive solutions; Zongteng Group’s "Goodcang Overseas Warehouse" has a wide global layout, fast delivery, and comprehensive services.
- Intelligent and green development drives competitive advantage upgrades: Smart logistics uses cutting-edge technology to accurately analyze and predict logistics links, optimize resource allocation, and improve warehousing and transportation efficiency, service transparency, controllability, and quality. Green logistics helps enterprises fulfill responsibilities, reduce costs, stabilize logistics prices, and win consumer trust. Ocean Network Express improves efficiency with digital booking, migrates cloud systems for speed and accuracy, and builds methanol dual-fuel ships to reduce emissions; Hapag-Lloyd builds energy systems for terminals and uses solar power to enhance environmental performance; Kerry Logistics builds rainwater collection systems and promotes rail and inland waterway shipping to reduce carbon emissions.
2. Research Framework
- Sample selection: Considering multiple factors, 50 representative logistics enterprises were selected globally, including trunk transportation, small parcel business, warehousing services, and other types.
- Indicator system framework: Primary indicators are set from four dimensions—operation, service, sustainable development, and innovation. These are broken down and weighted to build a cross-border e-commerce logistics enterprise competitiveness indicator system, including sub-indicators such as operating performance, business scale, and transportation services.
3. Result Analysis
- By indicator dimension: Operational capability—some enterprises excel in globalized services, have extensive networks, strong resource integration, and good operating performance, or are well-known express companies with outstanding small parcel business; Service capability—more than half of the enterprises have strong service capabilities, providing excellent end-to-end transportation and warehousing services, while a few have room for improvement; Sustainable development capability—most enterprises are strong, a few are weaker, but most actively respond to environmental and social challenges and build risk management systems; Innovation capability—over 70% of enterprises have high innovation levels, actively using cutting-edge technology and launching customized logistics solutions.
- Typical enterprises: For example, Cainiao has a global layout of smart logistics networks, promotes innovative services to help merchants, and optimizes reverse logistics; Kuehne+Nagel provides global logistics solutions, multimodal transport cooperation, and practices sustainable development; DHL has a wide logistics network, strong business, abundant transportation resources, and reliable services.
- By main business: Trunk transportation enterprises—most sample enterprises are involved, with strong companies having superior route capacity, standardized equipment, professional teams, and extensive cooperation to ensure transportation; Small parcel business enterprises—some focus on this, with strong companies offering flexible pickup and delivery, precise positioning, efficient service, dense networks, and good coordination; Warehousing service enterprises—a minority focus on this, with strong companies excelling in technical management, intelligent equipment, robust inventory systems, and diversified services.
