Abstract:
The apparel sector draws considerable attention in the Sri Lankan economy
as the main export market and it requires exclusive service towards buyers
as fast delivery, secure and quality products with optimal planning and
execution. As the majority of the apparel supply chain occurs through sea
freight, hence, there is a significant demand for more visibility for the end to-end movements. The concept of smart containerization has become
popular with the prevailing problems and enhancing visibility, reliability
and efficiency demands as a result of technological innovations. The study
was conducted based on the apparel industry in Sri Lanka for understanding
the concept and the related influencing factors in enhancing the
performance of the supply chain process. The study followed the qualitative
approach and case study strategy in methodology. In-depth interviews were
conducted selecting six experienced professionals from the logistics and
supply chain sector in the leading apparel export organizations in Sri Lanka.
NVivo assisted in the transcript coding process while deriving the
influencing factors. The study explored technological, financial and social
avenues and influences as a contribution to the inbound and outbound
logistics process of the apparel industry.
