ABSTRACT
Over the last few years we have been asked many times about the role and meaning of a fourth-party logistics (4PL) provider (Fourth Party Logistics1 and 4PL1 are global trademarks of Accenture). Indeed there is general confusion in the marketplace about the differences between 4PL and third-party logistics (3PL) providers, lead logistics providers (LLPs) and other types of business models. Clients have asked us: ‘How would I know a 4PL if I saw one?’ and ‘How can I transform my operationally adequate asset-based company into a virtual 4PL?’.
