Freight forwarders within the shipping industry have been noted as being conservative in embracing and using digital tools and lag behind other industries in their quest for digital transformation. The study aims to examine the impacts of digitization by understanding and analysing employees’ levels of agreement regarding their knowledge of technologies and the associated barriers/ challenges and drivers/ benefits of digitisation. An online survey was used to collect data from 120 participants from container freight forwarders and the survey consisted of four main sections, the results of which were analysed through statistical software to test their validity and reliability. Through this research, we were able to confirm the high level of support and knowledge that employees of container freight forwarders hold regarding digitisation. Areas of key focus were determined, such as strong management required and investment in training and skills to make the digital transformation and the company's efforts a success. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to examine specific container freight forwarders’ opinions on the impacts of digitisation. The results will benefit freight forwarders and other stakeholders within the shipping industry who want to be aware of the challenges and the beneficial impacts.

@article{lucydowling-2025-1680,
  title={The Impacts of Digitisation on Freight Forwarders within the Shipping Industry},
  author={Lucy  Dowling and Abubaker  Haddud},
  journal={Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal},
  year={2025},
  volume={18},
  number={2},
  pages={240--255},
  doi={10.31387/oscm0610470}
}

Lucy  Dowling, Abubaker  Haddud (2025). The Impacts of Digitisation on Freight Forwarders within the Shipping Industry. Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 18(2), 240-255. https://doi.org/10.31387/oscm0610470