IMPLICATION OF MOBILITY SOLUTIONS AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT FOR THIRD-PARTY LOGISTICS PROVIDERS (3PLs) IN KENYA

Efficient supply chain and logistics management provide a competitive advantage for manufacturing firms, with third-party logistics (3PL) providers optimizing operations through mobility solutions and emerging technologies. This study investigates the adoption, impact, challenges, and opportunities of such technologies among Kenyan 3PL providers. A survey of 12 firms, analyzing data from 48 management-level respondents using SPSS 26, revealed widespread use of GPS, fleet management, route optimization, barcoding, IoT, and cloud logistics. However, advanced technologies such as AI-led automation, drones, robotics, and blockchain remain underutilized due to regulatory gaps, limited technical expertise, and constrained investment. Despite these challenges, technological adoption has positively influenced key logistics performance indicators. The study recommends policy frameworks to support technology integration, workforce capacity building, and further research to evaluate the efficacy of advanced logistics technologies in the Kenyan context. Keywords: Third-Party Logistics (3pl), Mobility Solutions, Last-Mile Delivery