Logistics Outsourcing as a Strategy for Business Efficiency: Mediating Role of ICT

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to validate the impact of logistics outsourcing, a strategy that has become much more relevant in recent years, on business efficiency, as well as to investigate the mediating role of information and communication technologies in this relationship. The following investigation bases on the premise that logistic outsourcing is not only related to cost minimization but also has a positive effect on how companies adapt to the new environment that surrounds them, while also achieving efficiency in different areas and using all their technological resources from the new digital world. The study is based on a methodological design of instrumental research, using a questionnaire of 18 items, which was applied to 518 people in the sectors of interest. Subsequently, a thorough quality control and a rigorous validation of the data was carried out, consolidating the final sample in 512 respondents. With these data, statistical analyses were carried out, including descriptive and reliability measures to proceed with the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and to continue with the process of testing the previously stated hypotheses. The results revealed adequate levels of reliability, the exploratory factor analysis reported that the 18 items load two factors, with a very acceptable KMO and a good Bartlett with an explained variance within the scientific parameters; on the other hand, the confirmatory factor analysis reported 2 models, where model 2 (M2) with 15 items is the one with most adequate ‘goodness of fit’ determinants that positively confirm the factor structure of the model that measures logistic outsourcing (LO) to improve business efficiency (BE) using information and communication technologies (ICTs) as a mediating variable. This study establishes substantive reference framework to future research and for companies a way to achieve business efficiency using advanced technology and outsourcing activities and/or processes.