Sizing the roles: an exploratory research about Logistics 4.0 diffusion

Logistics 4.0 (L40), as a concept derived from Industry 4.0, has received increasing interest over recent years. Despite growing attention, there are few empirical studies examining its actual implementation by firms. This paper offers empirical evidence on L40 diffusion, focusing on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) versus large enterprises (LEs). Based on interviews with 65 Italian firms, supplemented by secondary data and on-site visits, the study explores L40 adoption from various perspectives: technologies, application areas, drivers, performance improvement, and solution maturity. Findings reveal successful L40 implementation with tangible benefits; however, the maturity of the technologies and solutions implemented remains low. These insights highlight how firms shape digital transformation accordingly to their size. This study is one of the first empirical contributions to advance the debate on the L40 diffusion rate, providing a comprehensive overview of the L40 transition in Italy and size-dependent transformation trajectories towards the digitalisation of logistics processes.