The maritime logistics industry plays a central role in national logistics systems and global supply chain operations. However, recent supply chain environments have become increasingly unpredictable due to various external disruptions and operational...
The maritime logistics industry plays a central role in national logistics systems and global supply chain operations. However, recent supply chain environments have become increasingly unpredictable due to various external disruptions and operational complexities. The interconnected structure of maritime-port-inland logistics requires a high level of information dependency and coordinated operations, yet persistent performance degradation has been observed due to limited information sharing, operational misalignment, and weakened collaboration among stakeholders. These issues indicate that improvements at the level of a single firm are insufficient and that an integrated, supply-chain-wide approach is necessary.
With the rapid expansion of digital technologies, such as real-time monitoring, automated equipment, and data-driven decision-making?the operating paradigm of logistics has shifted from physical coordination to digital information exchange. In this context, digital visibility has emerged as a critical capability for enhancing operational efficiency and detecting risks at an early stage. Because information accuracy and timeliness directly influence operational outcomes in maritime logistics, securing digital visibility has become indispensable.
Supply chain performance, however, is not solely determined by technological capabilities. The level of relational cooperation among partners plays an equally significant role. The maritime logistics industry relies heavily on long-term partnerships, and insufficient trust or cooperation can disrupt or distort information flows, thereby undermining overall operational performance. Thus, relational quality is a key factor shaping information flow and supply chain integration, ultimately affecting operational outcomes. Without considering relational factors, digital transformation alone is unlikely to yield the expected performance improvements.
Efficient supply chain operations further require integrated coordination of processes and systems across organizational boundaries. Internal alignment, supplier cooperation, and customer coordination are essential for optimizing overall workflow. Particularly in maritime-port-inland logistics networks, insufficient integration often results in delays, redundant tasks, and bottlenecks. Therefore, supply chain integration functions as a crucial mediating mechanism that links digital and relational capabilities to actual operational performance.
This study is grounded in these industrial changes and problem awareness. Despite the growing importance of digital transformation, relational collaboration, information quality, and integration, few studies have systematically examined how these factors interact to shape operational performance in the maritime supply chain. In particular, the mechanisms through which digital visibility and relational quality influence operational outcomes via information quality and supply chain integration remain underexplored.
Accordingly, this research aims to analyze the structural relationships among key capabilities within the maritime supply chain and to clarify how digital capabilities and relational capabilities jointly contribute to operational performance. The findings provide both theoretical justification and practical direction for implementing digital transformation strategies and enhancing cooperative supply chain management. Through empirical analysis, this study offers academic and managerial implications, discusses limitations, and proposes future research directions, thereby contributing to the broader discourse on performance improvement in maritime logistics.