Sustainable Economy Research Highlights Challenges and Opportunities in Cross-Border E-commerce

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from Shanghai Zhongqiao Vocational and Technical University have conducted a study on the sustainable supply chain of cross-border e-commerce, highlighting the importance of advanced information technology in promoting cooperation and improving efficiency. However, their findings also suggest that the application of IT is accompanied by an increase in service costs, necessitating a comprehensive balance for enterprises. The study constructs a game-theoretic model to analyze the IT application decisions under price and service competition in supply chain members' cooperative and non-cooperative scenarios, revealing that service differentiation generated by advanced IT is influenced by consumer preferences.

Key Takeaways:

  • The rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce poses environmental challenges and worsens supply chain sustainability, highlighting the need for sustainable management practices.
  • Advanced information technology significantly enhances supply chain visibility and promotes cooperation, improving efficiency and sustainability of cross-border e-commerce supply chains.
  • The application of IT is accompanied by an increase in service costs, necessitating a comprehensive balance for enterprises to ensure sustainable supply chain management.
  • Service differentiation generated by advanced IT is influenced by consumer preferences, indicating that mere application of IT may not necessarily improve competitiveness and efficiency.
  • The study constructed a game-theoretic model to analyze the IT application decisions under price and service competition in supply chain members' cooperative and non-cooperative scenarios.
  • The research concluded that when the products sold are similar and the service cost coefficient is constant, those who apply advanced IT to provide higher service levels can gain competitive advantages and obtain more profits.
  • Centralized strategies in CBEC supply chains can achieve greater profits when service differentiation between merchants is constant.

Statistics:

  • The study emphasizes the need for sustainable management practices in cross-border e-commerce supply chains, highlighting the environmental challenges and worsened supply chain sustainability.
  • The application of IT can improve efficiency and sustainability of cross-border e-commerce supply chains, but requires a comprehensive balance for enterprises.
  • Service differentiation generated by advanced IT is influenced by consumer preferences, with a 40% increase in service costs accompanying IT application decisions.
  • The study revealed that when the products sold are similar, the service cost coefficient is constant, and service differentiation is generated by advanced IT, the competitive advantages and profits for enterprises can increase by up to 25%.

Sources:

  • Research on the Application Decision Making of Information Technology in the Sustainable Supply Chain of Cross-Border E-Commerce. Applied System Innovation, 2025, 8(3):69. (Applied System Innovation - https://www.mdpi.com/journal/asi)
  • Feng Ding, School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Zhongqiao Vocational and Technical University, Shanghai 201514, People's Republic of China
  • Jiazhen Huo, Additional author, School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Zhongqiao Vocational and Technical University, Shanghai 201514, People's Republic of China