1、Logistics is referred to the article flow, but not including the flow of the people.Daskin defined logistics as the design and operation of physical, managerial and informational systems needed to overcome time and space. The concept of article in logistics includes tangible goods and intangible ser
2、vice, such as customer service, freight agents and logistics network design. Three major functions of logistics (1) Creating time value: same goods can be valued different at different times. Goods often stop during the transfer process, which is professionally called the storage of logistics. It cr
3、eates the time value for goods. (2) Creating location value: same goods can be valued differently at different locations. The value added during the transfer process is the location value of logistics. (3) Distribution processing value: sometimes logistics create distribution processing value, which
4、 changes the length, thickness and packages of the goods. Like popular saying, “ cutting into smaller parts” is the most commonly seen distribution processing within logistics create added value for goods. After completing a commercial transaction, logistics will execute the transfer of goods from t
5、he supplier( seller) to the customer( buyer) in the most cost-effective manner. This is the definition of logistics. During the transfer process, hardware such as logistics facilities and equipment( logistics carriers) are needed, as well as information control and standardization. In addition, supp
6、orts from the government and logistics association should be in place. Logistics is a new commercial area, developing from the traditional stage to a modern one. Logistics is changing at a rapid and acceleration rate. There are two reasons are its rapid growth: Firstly, pressure to change by the dev
7、elopment of the system itself (1) Highspeed computing and data transmission can instantly transmit and react to user demand (2) More flexible and accurate logistic planning and control through computers and data processing (3) Flexible computer facilities help problem solving and increase decisions
8、accuracy (4) Awareness of total cost measurement and management accounting Secondly, pressures for changes from the wider economy. (1) Be flexible in handling markets of different sizes for better competition (2) There is increasing specialization in markets and growth in retailing. (3) Life cycles
9、for products are shortening. Logistics systems need to be more efficient, faster and more flexible (4) Move from mass production towards flexible manufacturing system( FMS). These systems enable a company to switch production quickly from one product to another (5) Competitive pressures lead to more
10、 efforts to improve customer service. Information technologies are most important for modern logistics. Bar Code, POS, EDI and GPS systems dramatically improve the efficiency and accuracy of the logistics activities. Internet further assists the market development, operation and management of the lo
11、gistics industry. The 21st century is the era of information ,and e-commerce will become a development trend of commercial activity in this period . Our country , as a developing chuntry , is just at the early-stage in the e-business field .The e-business has wide development space and huge market p
12、otential . Logistics delivery in E-Business can not only reduce industrial storage, accelerate funds revolvling, increase logistics efficiency, decrease logistics cost, but also it can stimulate social demand. It is propitious to whole social macroscopical control and it can gain whole social econom
13、ical benefits, hasten the development of E-Business in depth.But under the rapid development there are also some problems exsit ,including the Internet technology, online payment, policies and regulations, logistics and so on .and logistics is a bottleneck problem that immediately restricted the dev
14、elopment of the e-business in our country . In the logistics information system, EDI plays the most important role. The revolution of information started with the introduction of the personal computer, followed by the optical fiber network, the explosion of the Internet and the World Wide Web. Inter
15、net assists market development, operational planning and management decisions in the logistics industry. Electronic commerce (EC) is the tool to be used to make deal between the seller and buyer by Internet in a paperless environment.Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) refer to a computer-to-computer
16、information sharing of business documents in a standard format. EDI is widely applied in the field of commerce with the legal effect. Virtual logistics is based on logistics network, but more computerized and systematized than logistics operation. Logistics information system can be made up by three
17、 parts: inputs by terminal, data managed by CPU, the outputs managed by optical fiber. Virtual warehousing is not real logistics network but an information network based on warehouse management. Intranet is the internal network within an organization that promotes sharing of internal company related
18、 information, using similar technology as the Internet B2C is the Internet commerce designed for direct communications and commercial relationship between a firm and its end customer.With the development of network and electronic technology, logistics distribution has become the bottleneck of the E-
19、commerce increasingly.The logistics distribution have important functions in B2C E-commerce, there are three existing loistics distribution models ,and the advantages and dissadcantages of the three models.In the circumstance of fixed sell quantity,if the scale of the logistics distribution gets lar
20、ger, the cost will be lower. The need for outsourcing creates Third Party Logistics. Third Party Logistics refers to specialized logistics service providers that provide specific services for suppliers and customers. Third Part Logistics provides all the logistics services. They act as a bridge or f
21、acilitator between the first part( supplier or producer) and the second part( buyer or customer). The primary objectives of third part logistics providers are to lower the total cost of logistics for the supplier and improve the service level to the customer. Third Part Logistics have been growing r
22、apidly. Cost reduction and demands for batter and cheaper services are the main drives behind the growth. A third part logistics provider will be in a position to consolidate business from several companies and offer frequent pickups and deliveries, whereas inhouse transportation cannot. Other reaso
23、ns are as follows: The company does not specialize in logistics； The company does not have sufficient resources； Eager to implement better logistics operation or does not have time to develop the required capabilities inhouse； The company is venturing into a new business with totally different logis
24、tics requirements； Merger or acquisition may make outsourcing logistics operations more attractive than to integrate logistics operations. Costs for logistics are similar to all other businesses and include fixed cost, variable cost and management cost. Transport does not need to change packages of
25、goods or stop in any place between the departure point and destination location.Transportation creates location value in logistics. Transportation is usually the biggest logistic costs for most companies.The primary factor to influence transport cost is distance and competition.There are three kinds
26、 of freight in transport: full-car load, Less-than-truck load and Container. Transportation using multiple transportation means is also called combined transport. Grouping small shipment into large ones is the primary method to lower cost per unit of weight in transportation. Factors Influencing Tra
27、nsportation Costs As transportation cost can be significant, the firm must identify and control the factors that affect these costs. In general, factors influencing transportation costs can be grouped into two major categoriesproduct related factors and marketrelated factors. Factors to influence th
28、e cost of transportation can be grouped into the categories: (1) transport distances； (2) transport linkages； (3) transport equipment, and (4) transport time. Important marketrelated factors also affect transportation costs. The most significant ones include: (1) competition from different carriers；
29、 (2) location of markets； (3) government regulation of transportation carriers； (4) freight traffic in a region； (5) seasonality of product movements； and (6) whether the product is being transported domestically or internationally. Each of these factors will affect the overall transportation costs.
30、 Logistics system includes customer service, packaging, transportation, storage, distribution processing and information control. A standarized logistic system ensures better time management, location choices and distribution capacities. Distribution is one of functions in logistics, which deliver g
31、oods to customers directly according to the order in the most economic way. Distribution includes logistics activities related to the sales and delivery of goods. Distribution capacity is value added in the logistic system. Distribution center is a large and highly automated multi-store building des
32、tined to receive goods from various suppliers, take orders, fill them in container efficiently, deliver goods to the customer as quickly and satisfyingly as possible. Distribution center is a short-term storage center located close to a major market to facilitate the rapid processing of orders and s
33、hipment of goods to customers. The national distribution center is linked to the metropolitans outer expressway, providing easy access to and from key ports, roads and other distribution channels for importers. The regional distribution center provides customized solution for supply chain management, warehousing and sea, air freight transport in the
