An Evaluation of The Components of an Effectively Functioning E-Logistics System

E-Iogistics has quickly developed into an integral component of everyday business processes. Although the foundation of logistical processes has been in existence since the bartering system was initially implemented, e-logistics began to evolve within the last few decades. In spite of the rapid implementation of e-logistics, a compilation of its complete components remains nonexistent. This thesis presents a comprehensive overview of the components of an e-logistics system as well as reviews specific corporations utilizing e-logistics, This includes a review of the two types of businesses conducted, business to business (B2B) and business to customer (B2C). The two main methods of e-logistics communication, electronic data interchange (EDI) and extensible markup language (XML) will also be considered. The types of companies reviewed are 1) companies conducting business through elogistic processes; and 2) companies providing e-logistics software, products, and packages to other agencies. The thesis will, initially, assemble the many ingredients of an e-logistics system and detail how they should be catered to the specific needs of a company. It will conclude with an examination of the present state of e-logistics and the role it continues to place in everyday business practices