A Novel Approach to Optimizing Third-Party Logistics Growth through IT, Big Data, and Machine Learning for Superior Supply Chain Management

The purpose of this research is to explore proper development prospects of 3PL business, particularly focusing on the utilization of Information Technology and big data technologies for improving the solidity of supply chains. The change of the industry that started from the provision of services and then became an integrated solution implies the rising role of IT as one of the means for supply chain improvement. Based on the market study and investigation of customers' behaviors, as well as the contexts of the 3PL industry of the India, this research outlines how the IT and big data analytics can contribute to the operations improvement and innovation of the 3PL. Besides, this paper aims at finding out whether the Big Data analytics can enhance the competitiveness of third party logistics providers in a volatile market.