THE IMPORTANCE OF LOGISTICS COSTS IN E-COMMERCE BUSINESSES

Abstract

The increase in global trade volume, driven by digitalization and changing consumer demands, has transformed the logistics sector from merely a supporting activity into a crucial element that shapes the competitive advantage of businesses and stands as a strategic cornerstone of national and international economies. Logistics encompasses processes such as transportation, warehousing, order processing, packaging, and demand forecasting, ensuring the timely, reliable, and cost-effective delivery of products. Today, with the intensification of global competition, the share of logistics activities in total costs has increased, highlighting the growing importance of strategic decisions related to the management and financing of logistics operations. In recent years, developments in communication, transportation, and information technologies, along with the widespread use of the internet, have accelerated the shift from traditional commerce to e-commerce. E-commerce offers businesses the opportunity to reach wider customer bases and respond to fluctuating demands quickly, efficiently, and at lower costs. This digital transformation has impacted not only trade processes but also logistics systems, giving rise to the concept of e-logistics. E-logistics, with its digitalized logistics processes, has evolved into a more flexible, data-driven, and customer-centric structure, becoming one of the key support components of e-commerce. This study examines the structure, business models, and practices of e-commerce enterprises in detail and explains their relationship with e-logistics. The main objective of the research is to reveal the importance of logistics costs in the e-commerce sector. As part of the study, a systematic literature review was conducted, and the findings were analyzed. The results indicate that e-commerce enterprises are transforming the logistics sector, this transformation has acquired a digital dimension, and logistics costs are a significant determining factor for profitability, competitive power, and customer satisfaction.

Keywords

• Logistics
• E-logistics
• Commerce
• E-commerce
• Logistics Costs

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