Analysis of the relationship between outsourcing in logistics, logistics costs and financial performance: An application in Gebze Organized Industrial Zone

Increasing logistics activities with globalization have made the effective management of the costs of these activities even more important in businesses. Reporting logistics costs separately from other activity costs in businesses has facilitated both the planning and control of costs. In addition, the use of modern cost management techniques in the management of logistics costs has been effective both in cost planning and in calculating costs in the most accurate way. In addition to this, outsourcing in logistics activities has provided advantages to businesses both in terms of costs and in terms of the continuity of their activities. Thus, both outsourcing in logistics activities and using modern techniques in cost management provided effective logistics cost management in businesses. Effective logistics cost management also positively affected the financial performance of companies. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between outsourcing, logistics costs and financial performance. In this context, an online survey was applied to the enterprises operating in the Gebze Organized Industrial Zone. The data of the survey were analyzed with SPSS 26.0 and Smart PLS 3.3 programs. As a result of the study, a statistically significant positive relationship was determined between outsourcing and logistics costs, between logistics costs and financial performance. In addition, it was concluded that outsourcing in enterprises explained 33 percent of the change in logistics costs, while logistics costs explained 19 percent of the change in financial performance.