Decision Making in Logistics Processes Supported by Cloud Computing

Logistics processes in a globalized economy are increasingly complex, dynamic, and distributed. These characteristics pose major challenges for logistics management. Planning, organizing, leading and coordinating processes have become progressively more complex activities that are carried out by an increasing number of internal actors. Information inputs and outputs of these processes are more diverse and complex, with a greater number of users. Decision making is distributed in a way that all actors within these processes make decisions locally and autonomously. Development of a unified and open logistics information platform aimed at integrating various (heterogeneous) logistics sources and data would facilitate improvement of the logistics operation efficiency and also reduce costs, enhance competitiveness, and enable advance of the logistics system. Logistics information platform is the core and key development factor of the modern logistics system. Construction of this electronic platform can greatly promote the information oriented (can greatly improve the information necessary) for modern logistics development. In addition to that, it would provide essential support in making strategic and operational decisions in logistics processes. This paper analyzes decision-making activities at different levels of logistics process management and explores the possibility of using cloud computing technology based on their key characteristics. In addition to that, the authors identify the different types of cloud computing architectures and cloud deployments models that are most frequently utilized for decision making in logistics. Research results include identified benefits and limitations of application of cloud computing technologies in supporting decision making in logistics processes.