Horizontal collaboration in logistics: a comprehensive framework

Cooperation in logistics is widely recognised as one of the core challenges for the next future. In this context, horizontal collaboration is believed to be one of the innovative solutions to effectively tackle the growing logistic challenges from both, environmental and economic points of view. This innovative topic is quickly gaining momentum but the literature in the field is still in its infancy. As a consequence, a methodological tool to support project and implementation of successful horizontal partnership is still not available. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive framework based on an extensive literature review of both, scholars and practitioners. The proposed tool is based on an incremental perspective, according to which mutual trust among partners is developed through continuous collaboration. More specifically, three steps are proposed: operational, tactical and strategic. For each of them a coherent couple of aims and shared assets is defined.