O objetivo desta pesquisa é avaliar as percepções de diferentes segmentos de exportadores sobre a qualidade da infraestrutura logística de exportação. Para isto, foram definidas e operacionalizadas, com base na revisão de literatura, as principais dimensões de segmentação de exportadores: tipo de carga (contêiner ou granel) e criticidade da operação portuária. Foram enviados questionários para os 250 maiores exportadores brasileiros do ranking da AEB (Associação de Exportadores Brasileiros). A partir dos 101 questionários recebidos foi possível identificar que exportadores de carga a granel tendem a considerar o escoamento e o acesso aos portos uma dificuldade logística mais crítica que os exportadores de cargas em contêineres. Já com relação à criticidade da operação porto-a-porto, os exportadores do setor de insumos industriais percebem a piora da qualidade da infraestrutura física do modal marítimo e da burocracia para exportação como reflexo de limitações na sua capacidade de produção.

The objective of this research is to evaluate the perceptions of different trading firms about the quality of the logistics infrastructure for the foreign trade. Based on the literature review, the major dimensions regarding these firms were defined and operationalized: type of load (container or bulk) and criticality of port operation. A survey was conducted with the 250 largest Brazilian firms ranked at the AEB list (Brazilian Foreign Trade Firms Association). Based on the 101 questionnaires returned, it was identified that the bulk traders tend to consider the access to ports a bigger logistical shortcoming than the container traders. With regard to the criticality of port operation, firms of the intermediate goods industry perceive the decay of the physical infrastructure and the foreign trade bureaucracy as a consequence of their limited production capacity

A strong link has been established between operational excellence and the degree of sophistication of logistics organization, a function of factors such as performance monitoring, investment in Information Technology [IT] and the formalization of logistics organization, as proposed in the Bowersox, Daugherty, Dröge, Germain and Rogers (1992) Leading Edge model. At the same time, shippers have been increasingly outsourcing their logistics activities to third party providers. This paper, based on a survey with large Brazilian shippers, addresses a gap in the literature by investigating the relationship between dimensions of logistics organization sophistication and drivers of logistics outsourcing. To this end, the dimensions behind the logistics sophistication construct were first investigated. Results from factor analysis led to the identification of six dimensions of logistics sophistication. By means of multivariate logistical regression analyses it was possible to relate some of these dimensions, such as the formalization of the logistics organization, to certain drivers of the outsourcing of logistics activities of Brazilian shippers, such as cost savings. These results indicate the possibility of segmenting shippers according to characteristics of their logistics organization, which may be particularly useful to logistics service providers.

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the logistics sophistication of Brazilian shippers on the acquisition pattern of 3PL (third-party logistics) service providers. The conceptual model of logistics sophistication and the major dimensions and variables relating to the acquisition pattern were defined and a questionnaire was sent to 218 Brazilian shippers listed on the Revista Exame ranking. Based on the 93 questionnaires returned, the analyses conducted indicate that the most sophisticated shippers are durable goods manufacturers and that they contract 3PL services providers for inventory management and higher value added services. In essence, these results indicate that the most sophisticated shippers seek 3PL service providers capable of managing logistics trade-offs such as inventory levels vs. asset utilization levels. These implications on the selection criteria of 3PL service providers are also discussed.

Atualmente, na relação entre indústria e varejo no Brasil, há pressão para que os fornecedores melhorem o serviço ao cliente e reduzam seus custos logísticos. A segmentação logística pode apoiá-los em seus esforços de posicionamento, uma das competências-chave em logística. A segmentação logística por benefícios ajuda os fornecedores a diferenciarem sua oferta, focando os atributos de serviço desejados pelos clientes e reduzindo custos, ao eliminar elementos que estes não valorizam. Este estudo teve por objetivo identificar segmentos de varejistas segundo suas expectativas em relação ao nível de serviço logístico prestado por seus fornecedores e caracterizar os segmentos assim obtidos através de variáveis de fácil acesso, tais como variáveis demográficas e organizacionais. Com base em dados de ampla pesquisa de survey, conduzida junto a varejistas brasileiros, foram identificadas soluções de dois e três segmentos de clientes com base em suas expectativas quanto ao serviço logístico prestado pelos fornecedores. No entanto, não se encontrou suporte suficiente para caracterizá-los segundo variáveis de fácil acesso, o que dificulta na prática sua identificação pelos fornecedores e a adequação de sua oferta de serviços logísticos às necessidades de cada segmento de clientes, bem como uma melhor gestão de seus custos logísticos.

In the present state of retailer-manufacturer relationships in Brazil, suppliers are being pressured to achieve improvements in customer service as well as reduction in logistics costs. In this context, logistics segmentation, one of the key logistics competences, is a valuable tool to support supplier positioning efforts. Benefit-based logistics segmentation helps suppliers to differentiate their offer, by focusing on attributes desired by customers, and to reduce costs, by eliminating elements that are not valued by them. The objective of this study was to identify retailer segments according to expectations concerning the level of logistics service they receive, as well as to characterize them by means of easy-access variables, such as demographic and organizational variables. Using data collected in a comprehensive survey research conducted with Brazilian retailers, both two and three segment solutions were identified based on customer expectations regarding logistics service provided by manufacturers. However, there was insufficient support for the characterization of these segments according to easy-access variables, making it difficult for manufacturers to identify them in practice and to match their offer of logistics services to the needs of each customer segment as well as to achieve better logistics cost management.

RESUMO O objetivo deste artigo é investigar a existência de diferenças regionais nas expectativas e percepções de varejistas no setor de supermercados de cinco capitais brasileiras quanto ao desempenho no serviço logístico proporcionado pelos seus fornecedores industriais. As diferenças foram investigadas a partir de cinco atributos do serviço logístico, representando as quatro dimensões de serviço mais valorizadas pelos varejistas. No que se refere às expectativas, os resultados revelaram uniformidade em três atributos e marcantes diferenças em dois outros. Quanto às percepções de desempenho, foram encontradas diferenças significativas em diversos atributos nas cinco regiões estudadas, tanto no que se refere à melhor prática quanto à prática média do mercado. Os resultados sugerem que os fornecedores podem obter melhores resultados competitivos se levarem em conta as diferenças entre as distintas regiões do país no momento de definir os níveis de serviço que irão proporcionar a seus clientes.

ABSTRACT This paper draws on a survey investigation of the existence of regional differences in the expectations and perceptions of retailers in the grocery industry of five Brazilian capitals as to performance in the logistics service provided by their manufacturer suppliers. Five service attributes were considered in the present study, measuring four service dimensions considered to be the most relevant by retailers. In terms of expectations, results show uniformity regarding three attributes and remarkable differences in two others. Several significant differences could be found in terms of the perception of both average and best practice performance in the five areas. Results indicate that there is ground for supplier companies to take such regional differences into account when defining the level of logistics service they will provide to their customers located in different parts of the country.