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Developing a smartphone app to enhance Oxfam's supply chain visibility

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
  • Tom Cherrett
  • Duncan Shingleton
  • Ben Norton
  • Fraser McLeod
  • Camille Forey
  • Janet Dickinson
  • Chris Winstanley
  • Nigel Davies
  • Chris Speed
  • Sarah Norgate
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>2015
<mark>Journal</mark>International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications
Issue number2
Volume18
Number of pages13
Pages (from-to)155-167
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date18/11/14
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

This paper reports on the development of a smartphone app designed to give drivers and managers in a charity organisation greater visibility of transport, donation bank and shop stock in time and space. Trials of the app with samples of drivers and shop managers across three counties in the UK showed that users' understanding of vehicle activity and how time was utilised in the business was enhanced. The app also informed their decision-making, aided some collaboration and helped in their understanding of donation bank and shop performance, with one region altering their collection schedules. The quality of 3G signal was an issue in certain areas which impeded performance and the rules by which the messaging platform should be used in such a tool need careful consideration.