Evaluation of cloud computing applications on logistics firms

With the globalisation of world markets, the concepts of speed, cost and information management have gained more importance. Cloud computing, which is evaluated as an innovative technology, enables to focus on core competencies and keep up with the developing technologies via outsourcing information technology activities. Cloud computing also allows to reach faster and more flexible business processes with lower costs through the principle of "pay as you go" in addition to outsourcing concept. Logistics is one of the sectors, in which information technologies are used intensively. Especially small and medium sized logistics companies are obliged to spend high amount of time and money to be able to provide the possession, management and sustainability of information technologies. In such a case, cloud computing, through its benefits, offers logistics companies to enhance their competition levels in the markets by integrating high technologies. In this study, awareness of logistics companies with regard to cloud computing, their reasons for prefering or not prefering the usage of cloud computing and benefits and risks of cloud computing for logistics companies are investigated. In this context, findings derived from the analysis of the data obtained via interviews with the logistics companies are evaluated in the context of technological, organizational and environmental issues. Keywords: Cloud Computing, Logistics, Logistics Information Technologies.