Digital infrastructure of service logistics: the case of the tourism industry

Abstract

The article discusses the digitization of services in the tourism industry. By applying the concept of service product to the tourism industry, the authors claim that the primary utility of a tourism product has a shifting nature and discuss the features of additional, derivative, and accompanying services as part of different types of tourism products. Logistics services in the tourism industry are considered to be one of the elements in the accompanying part of its service product. The value of the logistics support provided to tourism products is associated with the need to coordinate the efforts of tour operators, service providers involved, and the tourists themselves. The development of digital infrastructure is interpreted both as a trend connected with the development of the digital economy and as a ground for its servitization. The article highlights the advantages of a single digital infrastructure of the tourism industry and discusses its influence on different types of logistics flows. It identifies a number of areas associated with service provision which look promising in terms of their inclusion in digital infrastructure. It also contains examples of global systems and local technologies as components of the digital infrastructure in the tourism industry. Keywords—service logistics, digital infrastructure, tourism industry, customization of tourist products, automation of service products