Digitalization and innovation during the COVID-19: Mersin logistics sector example

The entire world has been profoundly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has changed every part of life and turned into a global crisis.International trade has slowed as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic's social and economic effects as well as supply and demand issues. In order to handle the Covid-19 pandemic crisis and maintain trade, the logistics industry has resorted to innovation. Interest in Industry 4.0 tools and digitization has increased in the logistics sector during the Covid-19 process. This research examines digitization and innovation in the Mersin logistics sector during the Covid-19 process. Secondary data was used in the literature section of the study. Qualitative research methods, interview techniques, and phenomenology design were used in the research. Ten senior managers who work for Mersin-based logistics companies were chosen for interviews. In the interviews, the common perception of the managers is that the digitization and innovation process that started before Covid-19 has accelerated with the Covid-19 pandemic. Keywords: Logistics, Covid-19, Digitalization, Industry 4.0, Innovation