Application of agile methods in traditional logistics companies and logistics start-ups: First results from a German Delphi study

Purpose: To meet rapidly changing requirements and increasing product complexity, a growing number of traditional companies and startups increases their agility by using agile methods. The logistics industry in particular is known to be a comparatively slow adapter to changes in general, but especially to new organizational innovations. The objective of the Delphi study conducted is to assess how traditional logistics companies and logistics startups use agile methods in their IT departments to deal with fast changing internal and external influences and how they respond to change. Methodology: A Delphi study will be conducted over several complementary rounds as an iterative expert judgement process. After the analysis of the first results, insights can be gained on the following points covering traditional logistics companies and logistics startups: a) The selection of agile methods and practices, b) the benefits that these methods and practices offer and c) the challenges of applying these methods and practices. Findings: The first results of the Delphi study show that traditional logistics companies as well as logistics startups use agile methods and practices to deal with a high degree of market uncertainty and change, and reveal what advantages and challenges they face. Originality: This originality of the Delphi study presented lies in its contribution to the largely unexplored area of agility in traditional logistics companies and logistics startups.