Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Thesis - ECU Access Only

Publisher

Edith Cowan University

Degree Name

Master of Business by Research

School

School of Business and Law

First Supervisor

Ferry Jie

Second Supervisor

Violetta Wilk

Third Supervisor

Sayidi Mat Roni

Abstract

With the rise of the gig economy, crowdsourcing has gained traction in many industries. This study examines the untapped potential of crowdsourced last mile delivery (CSLMD) in the express courier industry. Crowdsourcing is a critical facet given the rising demand for cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable last mile delivery (LMD) solutions. The escalating costs associated with LMD increase the imperative for effective management. As an evolving solution, crowdsourcing has found acceptance among various LMD stakeholders, notably in e-commerce; however, the same cannot be said for the express courier industry. By applying the Business Model Innovation (BMI) framework, this study aims to identify and examine the main barriers for the express courier industry in Sri Lanka to adopt CSLMD and based on the barriers identified, propose suitable application strategies to address those barriers and adopt CSLMD, the two research questions of this study are focused to achieve these two aims. Lack of brand visibility was identified as the main challenge for the express courier industry in Sri Lanka to adopt CSLMD. The main strategic solution identified is having a strong supply chain network. With the expansion of delivery network through crowd drivers its ability to build a strong supply chain network trumps the challenges arising from lack of brand visibility.

This study discovered a total of 11 challenges and 13 solutions. These strategic solutions act as the managerial implications of this study and not only offer guidance to current and future practitioners on successfully embracing CSLMD but also highlight the prevailing pain points within the industry. This dual role underscores their significance in helping logisticians make informed decisions about embracing CSLMD and mitigating the potential challenges for a successful implementation. This study contributes to the existing literature on CSLMD by offering valuable insights for practitioners navigating this evolving landscape. This study also has significant theoretical contributions to the theory BMI. It’s the first time BMI theory in the context of CSLMD for the best of author’s knowledge. This study also advances the theory by further proving that changes to one BMI dimension may or may not affect the other BMI dimension and this study further proves the adaptive Business Model typology.

DOI

10.25958/vd9s-3636

Access Note

Access to this thesis is embargoed until 11th December 2027

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