Outline of the phenomenon of commodification in transport

Abstract

PURPOSE: An attempt to identify and describe the phenomenon of commodification in transport and to develop mechanisms that can help solve contemporary dilemmas of transport companies.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: One of the determinants of the changing economic reality, including supply chains, is the increasing phenomenon of commodification, involving, inter alia, on the disappearance of differences between brands to such an extent that the only factordetermining the choice of a given product or service is price. This raises the question: does commodification also occur in transport? The search for an answer to this question became an impulse to undertake research on the identification and description of the phenomenon of commodification in transport and the development of mechanisms that may help in solving the contemporary dilemmas of transport companies that have to operate in the conditions of intense market competition.

FINDINGS: the identified and described phenomenon of commodification in transport raises the awareness of transport companies in the aspect of the impermanence of their competitive advantages. However, this approach may not be sufficient. Therefore, the transport company should additionally take into account the mechanism of strengthening competitive advantages developed in the second part of the chapter, which takes into account: the key success factors, logistic competences, transport strategies and the characteristics of transport services for thebasic strategies of supply chains.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE: An outline of the phenomenon of commodification in transport and of mechanisms that can help solve contemporary dilemmas of transport companies.