The disruptive potential of ICT innovation in logistics: implications for learning

Recent years have seen the rapid diffusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the logistics service industry. The diffusion of ICT is influencing third-party logistics providers (3PLs) at both strategic and operational levels and it seems to have a disruptive po-tential impact on the logistics service market. However, the EU logistics service industry is characterised by a huge digital divide between large and small 3PLs. On the other side, the dis-semination of ICT is shifting the 3PL industry to an increasingly knowledge-intensive ap-proach. In this process, the role of learning becomes critical and an assessment of the impact of future ICT learning needs for 3PLs is a strategic imperative. This chapter aims at analyzing the potential disruptive impact of ICT innovation in the 3PL industry and defines a learning agenda to upgrade ICT learning and skills for a more effective use of technology by small 3PLs.