1. Dr. TAWEESAK THEPPITAK - Professor Faculty of Logistics, Burapha University, Thailand.
2. PHIMPHO ZMAOUNTY - National University of Laos.
Nowadays, global logistics service industry is increasingly playing an important role to international trade and investment. Effective logistics system reduces total costs and also improves service level that products can sell with competitive prices in global market. Warehouse plays critical role for supporting logistics activity. The study’s objective is to assess a capability of Thai storage and warehousing firms, including examining their readiness and competitive level. It also examines problematic issues how to enhance competitive advantage to Thai storage and warehousing firms. To examine above issues, questionnaire survey was conducted through 70 samplings and 50 returned with response rate at 71.5 percent. Also, in-depth interview was conducted through 20 respondents. The results show that most of them still lack understanding and effects of opening logistics service liberalization. Their competitive capabilities are rather in medium to low levels. They have a lesser degree of readiness and adaptability to logistics service liberalization. To assess benefits and costs if opening the warehouse liberalization, Thai SMEs firms have mostly potential adversely effects. On the other hand, logistics users will get higher benefits for gaining higher responsiveness and lower cost reduction. It also provides recommendations based on how to facilitate Thai SWSPs to adjust and respond to rapid changes in case of opening logistics liberalization.
Trade Potential, Adaptability, Warehousing, Storage, Thailand.