Digital Transformation of Cross-Border Logistics: A New Model of

International Trade

Zhexi Ye

Business School, Macau University of Science and Technology, Avenida WaiLong, Taipa, Macau, China

Keywords: Cross-Border Logistics, Digital Transformation, International Trade.

Abstract: With the rapid development of global economic integration and information technology, cross-border e-

commerce, as an emerging model of international trade, has brought profound impact and change to traditional

industries, and has become an important engine to promote the digital transformation and upgrading of

traditional industries. The traditional international freight forwarding supply chain process is short and simple,

while the cross-border e-commerce logistics supply chain business process is long and complex. Therefore,

in the process of transformation from traditional freight forwarders to cross-border e-commerce logistics,

there are insufficient supply chain integration ability, lack of reverse logistics support, imbalance of cross-

border logistics network, fragmentation of data information system and other problems that need to be

overcome. Based on the background of cross-border e-commerce, this paper makes an in-depth analysis of

the status quo and urgency of the transformation of logistics marketing strategies, summarizes and analyzes

the driving forces of digital transformation, and explores feasible ways of transformation based on case

analysis.

1 INTRODUCTION

Logistics, which was used only as a military term for

many years, has become an indispensable component

of today's business processes. Every business that

produces goods and services prefers to deliver these

goods and services to its customers in the most

optimal way. In fact, in today's business world, where

the number of businesses operating on a global scale

is increasing day by day, making supply chains and

especially logistics support processes efficient is a

key element in gaining competitive advantage. For

this reason, logistics has become an area that needs to

be worked on meticulously (Başer, 2024).

Cross-border e-commerce conducts transactions

via Internet platforms. Consumers order, enterprises

pack and ship to logistics, and payment is confirmed

after the buyer checks the goods. The logistics link is

vital; otherwise, transactions may be interrupted. The

international logistics system is complex. Firstly, its

digitalization and industry concentration are low,

with independent logistics enterprises and unopened

systems, causing issues like low investment, long

delivery, and frequent losses for cross-border e-

https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7698-6101

commerce. Secondly, there are numerous logistics

providers with varying service levels, mostly using

extensive traditional methods, which make tracking

hard, increase loss risks, and prevent real-time

monitoring of goods. This leads to delivery delays

and other problems, and as cross-border platforms

rank enterprises based on these indicators, frequent

issues will affect the ranking.

In the digital age, emerging technologies like big

data, IoT, and intelligent tech drive enterprise

transformation, especially benefiting cross-border e-

commerce. China's cross-border e-commerce has a

low entry threshold and high profits, attracting many

players. But traditional foreign trade enterprises

lacking relevant experience struggle to transform,

mainly due to a shortage of digital talents. This talent

scarcity is the root cause of the industry's fragmented

state, making transitions hard. Small, scattered cross-

border e-commerce firms have limited strength, less

appealing to digital talents compared to large

domestic e-commerce giants.

Cross-border e-commerce enterprises with small

scales lack sufficient funds and have limited risk

resistance. Focused on cost-cutting for higher profits

560

Ye, Z.

Digital Transformation of Cross-Border Logistics: A New Model of International Trade.

DOI: 10.5220/0013849600004719

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on E-commerce and Modern Logistics (ICEML 2025), pages 560-564

ISBN: 978-989-758-775-7

during operation, they often overlook digital

technology. Considering it time-consuming, labor-

intensive, and too costly, they underinvest in it due to

insufficient knowledge. As a result, business leaders

pay little attention, allocating minimal resources,

leaving these enterprises at a disadvantage in the

competitive market.1.2 Global supply chain

fragmentation. Based on this background, this paper

analyzes the driving force and mechanism of digital

transformation of cross-border logistics.

2 CROSS-BORDER LOGISTICS

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

DRIVING FORCE

2.1 The Status of Cross-Border

Logistics

In international trade, cross-border logistics shoulders

the crucial task of transporting goods from the seller's

country or region to the buyers. It serves as a pivotal

link in facilitating the transfer of commodity

ownership. Without efficient and dependable cross -

border logistics, the delivery of goods in international

trade would be unfeasible, and transactions between

buyers and sellers could not be concluded.

At the same time, cross-border logistics is a vital

component of the global supply chain, playing an

indispensable role in maintaining its stable operation.

This highlights its significance in ensuring supply

chain stability.

2.2 Technological Progress

In transport and logistics, key transformation tools are

electronic document systems, digital goods tracing,

smart-contract payment systems, information

exchange platforms, and digital transport corridors

(Nikolaeva et al., 2020). The improvement of

logistics efficiency has enabled the transportation of

some goods that are not suitable for long-distance

transportation. Meanwhile, the development of

logistics technology has further reduced costs and

promoted the development of cross-border e-

commerce.

First of all, efforts should be focused on the

research and application of cutting-edge technologies

such as big data, cloud computing, the Internet of

Things, and artificial intelligence to build a smart

logistics ecosystem. Cross-border e-commerce

platforms can accurately predict market demand

through big data analysis, optimize the supply chain,

and reduce inventory overstock and operating costs.

Logistics companies can thereby achieve intelligent

scheduling, route optimization and real-time tracking,

improving delivery efficiency and customer

satisfaction. Cloud computing provides strong

support for the processing of massive data, enhancing

the stability, efficiency and scalability of the logistics

information platform. Secondly, the introduction of

blockchain technology has brought revolutionary

changes to the transparency and security of the

logistics industry chain. By establishing an

unalterable distributed ledger, it can ensure the

authenticity and credibility of data throughout the

entire chain of goods from production, transportation

to delivery, effectively solving the trust issue in cross-

border e-commerce, reducing fraud risks and

improving transaction efficiency. Through the

establishment of an industry-university-research

cooperation platform, the government, enterprises,

universities, scientific research institutions and other

forces are gathered to jointly carry out key technology

research, standard formulation, talent training and

other work, forming a good situation of

complementary advantages and collaborative

innovation, and providing a steady stream of

intellectual support and technical reserves for the

deep integration and development of the logistics

industry chain and cross-border e-commerce(Guo,

2024).To boost logistics performance with current

tech, managers should: integrate info systems, make

proper ICT-related decisions for logistics planning,

automate processes, develop omni - channel logistics,

enhance communication with clients and suppliers,

and gain quality management skills via training.

(Moldabekova et al., 2021).

2.3 Policy Support

Developing and implementing basic concepts for a

cross-border transport and logistics cluster can create

conditions to boost service volume and quality and

gain a competitive edge. (Liashenko and Trushkina,

2021).

The RCEP agreement lowers trade barriers, both

tariff and non-tariff, among member countries. This

means that cross-border e-commerce companies can

enjoy lower import tariffs and lower costs when

participating in the markets of RCEP member

countries. This will undoubtedly promote the

development of cross-border e-commerce scale in the

region and the growth of China's cross-border e-

commerce import and export. By simplifying and

standardizing trade procedures and customs clearance

procedures, RCEP improves the flow efficiency of

Digital Transformation of Cross-Border Logistics: A New Model of International Trade

561

goods and services, and has a positive impact on the

logistics and distribution process of cross-border e-

commerce. The region covered by RCEP has a large

population and economic volume, and cross-border e-

commerce enterprises can more easily enter these

markets through the RCEP framework and expand

their customer base; RCEP encourages cooperation

and innovation among member states in the field of

digital economy, promotes technology exchange and

digital transformation, which means that cross-border

e-commerce enterprises can obtain more technical

support and digital solutions, and further improve

their operational efficiency and user experience; The

market integration and resource complementarity of

RCEP member states bring broader competition and

cooperation opportunities for enterprises in cross-

border e-commerce, and enterprises can optimize

resource allocation and market layout through more

effective partnership and supply chain management.

In general, these regulations will provide better norms

and guarantees for digital trade among RCEP member

states and help promote the development of the digital

economy and enhance economic cooperation among

member states (Zhou and Vagrancy, 2024).

2.4 Market Demand

From the perspective of market demand, with the

rapid development of cross-border e-commerce,

consumers have an increasing demand for fast,

accurate and traceable logistics services. Traditional

logistics models are often difficult to meet the

requirements of timeliness and information

transparency of cross-border e-commerce, so

consumers' demand for high-quality products, the

increase in global Internet usage, the progress of

cross-border logistics technology and the

improvement of global supply chain capabilities have

brought opportunities for the rapid growth of cross-

border e-commerce.

3 CASES ANALYSIS

Organizations that regularly generate new ideas and

secure resources succeed in the market by creating,

developing, and launching new products, services,

and technologies (Parfenov et al., 2021).

3.1 CMA CGM's Digital Innovation in

the Maritime Sector

As a prominent global shipping and logistics brand,

CMA CGM encounters multiple operational hurdles

during its business expansion. Among them are the

inefficiencies stemming from conventional logistics

practices, the substantial expenses associated with

maintaining fleet effectiveness, and the arduous task

of monitoring cargo across extensive shipping

networks. To tackle these problems, CMA CGM

initiated a strategic digital transformation endeavor,

aiming to optimize its global operations and elevate

customer service quality.

The digital transformation of CMA CGM centers

on incorporating cutting-edge technologies to

simplify operations and boost logistics efficiency.

Key initiatives involve upgrading the automation

system and the customer relationship management

system. By utilizing intelligent technologies to

automatically handle and track containers, the

company has enhanced tracking precision, minimized

time lags, and notably increased operational

reliability and customer satisfaction. Moreover, the

system conducts real-time data analysis for fleet

management and operational decision-making,

enabling proactive maintenance strategies,

optimizing shipping routes, and strengthening

logistics planning. As a result, costs are saved, and

fleet utilization rates are improved.

Through targeted digital initiatives, CMA CGM

has achieved remarkable enhancements in its

operations. By deploying automated systems and

capitalizing on advanced analytics, the company has

streamlined its processes, significantly cut down on

operating expenses, and simultaneously enhanced

fleet management efficiency. These technological

advancements not only optimize internal workflows

but also elevate customer satisfaction by delivering

more reliable and efficient services.

3.2 JingDong International Cold Chain

Jing Dong relies on the integrated cold chain service

capability of the cold chain storage network, cold

chain transport network and cold chain distribution

network, the establishment of a complete cold chain

logistics supply chain, The temperature of the whole

chain is controllable, the process is visible, and the

source can be traced, which improves the integrated

operation and precise control ability of warehousing,

transportation and distribution.

JD.COM cooperated with China, Tai Sen to build

an automatic three-dimensional cold storage, and

invested several intelligent storage devices, such as

double stretcher stacker, pallet conveyor, WCS

software products with three core modules such as

task center and RFID information tag system, to

realize the cooperative work and orderly connection

ICEML 2025 - International Conference on E-commerce and Modern Logistics

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of multiple devices, improve the efficiency of

production links and reduce storage costs.

In addition, JD.COM and the International Cold

Chain Commodity Exchange Center jointly built a

spot trading platform for cold chain commodities and

conducted in-depth cooperation in many fields such

as cold chain logistics warehouse allocation. We also

cooperated with Yuhu Group to jointly build a full-

link digital intelligent low-carbon circulation scheme

for cold chain ingredients, build a digital low-carbon

cold chain smart park, and explore digital intelligent

supply chain solutions.

4 A NEW MODEL OF

DIGITAL-DRIVEN

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

4.1 Digital Logistics Infrastructure

Construction

Building denser logistics nodes around the world,

including overseas warehouses and sorting centers, to

reduce the time and cost of cross-border shipping,

especially in high-demand market areas, setting up

forward warehouses or distributed inventory systems

can significantly improve response speed and

customer satisfaction; Increase investment in

warehouse facilities, adopt advanced warehouse

management systems (WMS) and automation

equipment, improve storage density and operational

efficiency, use ships, planes, trains and other modes

of transport to build a diversified and efficient

transport network, especially in sea transport, can

order large container ships to expand cargo space,

improve transport efficiency and cost effectiveness;

As an important gathering place of logistics activities,

logistics park's planning, construction and operation

management level directly affect logistics efficiency.

4.2 Digital Supply Chain Management

Digital supply chain management is a kind of supply

chain management method based on digital

technology and data, which makes supply chain

management more efficient, transparent and

intelligent. During the Fourth Industrial Revolution,

digitizing logistics infrastructure is essential with

many options, from mobile devices for managers to

AI in transportation. In the fifth stage, the future of

digitizing logistics infrastructure is a self-adjusting

real-virtual cyberspace with AI, which aims to reduce

logistics transaction costs and risks through cross-

border supply chain integration. (Motahhir and

Bossoufi, 2021). At the heart of digital supply chain

management is the Internet of Things (iot) technology,

which connects sensors with the Internet to enable the

automatic exchange of data between items. In the

supply chain, iot technology can provide real-time

logistics and inventory data, which can help

enterprises make more accurate decisions; Using data

analysis and forecasting can help enterprises predict

the future supply and demand situation, thus helping

enterprises to develop more effective supply planning

and management strategies (Dildor and

Narimonjon,2020).

At the same time, data analysis can also find

problems in the supply chain and provide solutions to

make the supply chain more efficient and reliable.

Blockchain technology can help businesses ensure

the security and trustworthiness of data, especially

transaction data that occurs in the supply chain. The

degree of digitalization significantly influences

operational speed and accuracy and offers

opportunities to enhance supply chain adaptability

and flexibility (Shadibekova and Ismoilov, 2022).

Blockchain technology can track the origin and flow

of products to comply with transaction regulations

and regulatory standards; Ai technology can provide

automated planning and scheduling, enable the

autonomous operation of supply chains, and improve

the efficiency and flexibility of supply chains. In

addition, according to a survey of global enterprises

conducted by Deloitte, 54% of respondents indicated

that digital supply chain management is a key

development direction for their companies, and 44%

of respondents are adopting digital supply chain

management (Ye, 2025).

5 CONCLUSION

This study deeply analyzes the key role of cross-

border logistics digital transformation in building a

new model of international trade, aiming to provide

theoretical support and practical guidance for the

transformation and upgrading of related industries.

Through continuous exploration and practice. Digital

transformation has reshaped the operation process of

cross-border logistics. From order processing,

warehousing management to transportation and

distribution, all links have realized efficient

coordination and precise control with the help of

digital technology, greatly improving the quality and

efficiency of cross-border logistics services and

injecting new impetus into the vigorous development

of international trade.

Digital Transformation of Cross-Border Logistics: A New Model of International Trade

563

Looking forward to the future, data will become the

core element of cross-border logistics to reduce costs

and increase efficiency. Achieve accurate demand

prediction through big data analysis, optimize

inventory management, and reduce storage costs; Use

the Internet of Things technology to monitor the

transportation status in real time, rationally plan

routes, and reduce the waste of transportation

resources. With the help of artificial intelligence to

achieve intelligent decision-making, further enhance

the automation and intelligence level of logistics

operations. In order to better promote the digitization

process of cross-border logistics, on the one hand,

enterprises need to pay attention to technical

adaptation, choose the appropriate digital technology

according to their own business scale, characteristics

and development strategy, avoid blindly following

the trend, and ensure the deep integration of

technology and business. On the other hand, it is

essential to strengthen ecological synergy. Cross-

border logistics involves customs, freight forwarding,

warehousing, transportation and other parties, all

parties should establish an open and sharing

cooperation mechanism, break information barriers,

build a digital ecosystem, optimize the allocation of

resources and achieve mutual benefit and win-win

results, so as to promote the continuous innovation

and development of cross-border logistics in the tide

of digitalization, and open up a broader development

space for international trade.

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