基于学术界对3PL(“Third—Party Logistics Providers”)演进及其“Orchestrator”角色的理论研究,笔者对供应链环境下的物流金融服务进行了探讨。研究表明:基于成本交易理论、资源基础观以及网络理论支持的3PL的“Orchestrator”角色可用于对供应链环境下的物流金融服务的理论解释。为了充分说明3PL的“Orchestrator”角色在物流金融服务中的作用,笔者还结合了三种具体形式,即工业品供应链物流金融服务、消费品供应链物流金融服务以及物流银行进行了说明。3PL的“Orchestrator”角色研究在物流与供应链管理学术界刚起步,本文从物流金融服务视角丰富了学术界对此议题的讨论,具有理论和实践的双重启示意义。从理论上看,尽管物流金融服务将3PL提升到一个新的运作平台,推进了3PL的演进,但对这一现象,特别是在供应链环境下,学术界尚未给出一个系统的理论解释。本文推进了3PL在物流金融服务中的理论研究。从实践来看,对于3PL来说,只有充分发挥“Orchestrator”角色的作用,才能最大化自身的价值增值空间以及物流金融服务创新的潜力。
Based on the discussion on the evolution of 3PL (Third-Party Logistics Providers) and its role as an Orchestrator, the present study investigates logistics finance in the context of supply chain. The research results suggest that the role of 3PL Orchestrator, which based on transaction cost theory, resource-based review and network theory, can be used to explain its application in the supply chain oriented logistics finance. In order to illustrate the role of 3PL as an Orchestrator in logistics finances adequately, the study exemplifies it with three forms, i.e. logistics finance applied to industrial supply chain, consumer supply chain, and logistics bank. Given that the research on 3PL Orchestrator is under-developed in the logistics and supply chain community, the present study has however extended the discussion to the logistics finance setting. The study has both theoretical and practical implications. From a theoretical perspective, the study contributes more to the theory development of 3 PL. There is no doubt that logistics finance has offered 3 PL a new arena, which propels the evolution of 3 PL. But yet so far there is no systematical explanation for this phenomenon theoretically. From a practical perspective, the study suggests that, in order to explore the value creation and innovative potential of logistics finance, 3PL should play the role of Orchestrator substantially.