Why do Internet commerce firms incorporate logistics service providers in their distribution channels?
基于交易成本理论和战略网络理论，研究了互联网商务企业为何与物流服务提供商建立关系，发现低资产专用性和不确定性是驱动因素，且物流服务商能提供捆绑多种服务的网络接入。
Abstract The Internet has redefined information‐sharing boundaries in distribution channels and opened new avenues for managing logistics services. In the process, firms have started to incorporate new service providers in their commercial interactions with customers over the Internet. This paper studies conceptually and empirically why Internet commerce firms (ICFs) have established relationships with these providers. Focusing on logistics services in outbound distribution channels, we rely on transaction cost theory to reveal that low levels of asset specificity and uncertainty drive Internet commerce firms to establish these relationships. Moreover, we apply strategic network theory to show that Internet commerce firms seek these providers because they offer access to relationship networks that bundle many complementary logistics services. In addition, logistics service providers make these services available across new and existing relationships between the Internet commerce firms, their customers, and their vendors.