Efficiency Measurement in Digitalized Work Systems of Transport Logistics

Digitalization is a major trend and challenge in most industries and sectors of societies. Still, quantitative insights regarding the impacts of digitalization are missing. This chapter is reporting a first approach using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) for measuring efficiency results of digitalization steps in a retail logistics context. Aspiring to quantify the performance of professional truck drivers during a digital turnover related to mobile devices, we evaluate truck loading processes. As inputs we use loading time and costs. Outputs are load factor of units, invoice charged to shops, and the value of the damages during truck loading. The findings indicate that a change in the level of digitalization entails a loss of the efficiency level in the first instance, which can be compensated and even surpassed later. When applying linear regression analysis, we prove a low statistical linear relationship of age and efficiency plus a strong statistical linear relationship of employer size and efficiency as well as period of employment and efficiency, always regarding the changing levels of digitalization in the working system of professional truck drivers. For practitioners in retail logistics, we derive the importance of employee retention programs for human resource management, along with a positive working environment provided for truck drivers to reduce fluctuation effects. Furthermore, we advise designing software for truck drivers as commonplace as possible and in the style of widespread smartphone software user interfaces.