DIGITALIZATION OF MARITIME LOGISTICS AND LEAD TIME OF SEAPORTS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examined the association between digitalization of maritime logistics and lead time of Seaports in Nigeria. Adopting a critical realism, this paper employed causal research design and quantitative methodology to establish the association between the variables. The population of this paper comprised the 7 Seaports in Nigeria. 63 respondents from the seaports provided quantitative data for the study through a semi-structured questionnaire designed in Likert 5-point scale. The data were analyzed using inferential statistics particularly regression analyses to assess the association between digitalization of maritime logistics and lead time of Nigerian seaports, by testing 4 null hypotheses in the study. From the analysis it was revealed that automated demand planning, warehouse automation, automated inventory management, and transport automation have significant and positive associations with lead time. Based on this finding, we concluded that digitalization of maritime logistics has a positive, and significant association with lead time of Seaports in Nigeria. Therefore, we recommended that, Seaports in Nigeria should improve on digitalizing their logistics operations, leverage resources within and outside the organizations in order to improve lead time and general port performance.