Business logistics

Definition

This discipline, which underpins any business process, was developed and started to be studied late, because its importance was not immediately understood. Therefore, even the definition is not easy to give to this discipline, when it comes to Business Logistics, there is always some confusion. At the moment, Business Logistics is gaining in importance, because the introduction of many concepts relating to the introduction of value creation, or even true global value chains. To date, however, it corresponds to the science that studies the management of all material and the corresponding flow of information, starting from suppliers and ending with the end consumer. Thus, all materials entering the warehouse, as input, to the output, as output. As already mentioned, in an international context such as the modern, contemporary one, business logistics is becoming increasingly important, but above all, in such a context, the flow of information and resources in and out, thus exchanged between the various companies or countries, is considerably greater. This is why, at this time, we have come to speak of Global Value Chains, real chains on a global scale. The management of such a process, i.e. the management of information and resources, is essential and vital for any business entity, because it guarantees organisation and solid structure. However, the term was coined around the mid-1900s and was mainly used for military procurement, but even in this context it referred to the flow of information and resources, in a certain sense. It was only later, however, that it also began to have significance in a climate of 'peace'. (citare l'articolo "UN'ANALISI DELLA LETTERATURA COMPARATIVA DELLE DEFINIZIONI DI LOGISTICA: TRA DEFINIZIONI GENERALI E DEFINIZIONI DI SOTTOCATEGORIE")

Evolution

As already mentioned, logistics was initially used and thought of solely in military terms, despite the fact that its purpose was actually more or less the same, but then it underwent an evolution, especially in terms of context. This is probably because the economic and competitive advantage of organising the management of inbound and outbound logistics was realised. In any case, in the first phase of its application, logistics was fragmented within the company into several strategic areas (marketing, finance, production), this because understanding of the subject was low and initially this was considered the best way to reduce costs. Subsequently, however, logistics was thought of as a real strategic area, useful for reducing total costs, and therefore with strategic significance. This took shape around 1960/1970 when the physical distribution of materials was officially born, under the strategic attention of top management. Actually, the first to be invented were the outbound logistics activities, i.e. the activities that get the output to the consumer. However, shortly thereafter, inbound activities also took shape and grew in importance. Now, in the present, Business Logistics, has considerable importance within the company, for several reasons. First of all, we can consider it as a real internal strategic area that takes care of the supply chain in its entirety, thus up to the delivery to the customer. Furthermore, it is a good tool that even today promotes internal coordination, thus a considerable organisation of resources, the continuous integration of the structure and the continuous building of new relationships in the market of interest. Thanks to these relationships, in a market, not only will there be a flow of matter, but also a non-tangible flow, namely that of information, which is vital for businesses. From now on, business logistics will continue to grow and gain in importance, mainly because we look at this matter in a much broader context: the international context. And furthermore, with constant technological advancement, and, as already mentioned, internationalisation, business logistics will acquire an even more important role in relationship management. (citare articolo 2 nella cartella)