Analysis of ICT use in the Barents region : research findings from logistics service providers and forest industry

Efficient logistics is a major aspect in the competitiveness of the companies in the Barents Region because their customers are typically located far away from the region. This study focuses on the Logistics Service Provider (LSP) and the forest industries in the Barents region. The LSPs are important facilitators of trade whose role has increased with the prevailing outsourcing trends of the industries. The appropriate use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) provides one means to support the competitive strategies of the LSPs in the Barents region, where the sector is typically composed of small and medium-sized LSPs. To date, the role and competitive developing processes of small and medium-sized LSPs have not been extensively studied and there is very little information on the ICT capabilities and practices in the sector. The research provides general information on the types of LSPs that are found in the Barents region (number of companies, industry trends, company cooperation practices etc.) and studies the current status of ICT implementation in the industry. In particular, the perceived motivators and barriers for ICT implementation are of interest. A survey is conducted in Barents area Finland, Norway, and Sweden, resulting in a total of 168 responses. The results indicate that majority of the LSPs are familiar with computer technology and have some ICT tools available. The surveyed Norwegian LSPs are most “technology-oriented” overall, but the conclusion does not hold for all technology tools. In order to better understand the ICT implementation from the supply chain management perspective, the Russian forest sector is studied in more detail. A total of 9 qualitative interviews are conducted with companies in or related to the Russian forest industry. Overall, the ICT implementation is in a very incipience stage in forestry in Russia. Nonunderstanding of benefits that could be obtained using ICT was mentioned as the main barrier for development of ICT competence. The lack of IT-skilled specialists in Kostomuksha, where majority of the interviews took place, was mentioned as one of the obstacles for a more wide-spread use of ICT in forestry.Godkänd; 2005; 20061117 (ysko