Digitalisation and Technological Development in the Transport and Warehousing Sector: A Comparative Analysis of the EU-27
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess and compare the level of digital and technological development in the transport and warehousing sector across the EU Member States. The study focuses on cross-country differences in the adoption, development and use of selected digital technologies and solutions supporting the technological transformation of enterprises. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study employs a multidimensional comparative approach based on Hellwig’s pattern development method. Six diagnostic variables were selected to capture different aspects of digital and technological development in the transport and warehousing sector: the use of artificial intelligence technologies, the internal development of AI technologies, enterprises’ consideration of AI adoption, the use of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, the use of paid cloud computing services, and the share of turnover generated through online sales. The analysis uses secondary data for EU-27 Member States and applies a synthetic measure to rank countries and identify differences in their level of technological development. Findings: The results reveal substantial disparities between the EU Member States. Denmark and Malta achieved the highest values of the synthetic measure of digitalisation and technological development, while Romania, Bulgaria and Poland recorded the lowest values. Poland ranked 25th among the 27 analysed countries, with a value considerably below the EU-27 average. The findings indicate that the level of digital and technological development in the transport and warehousing sector remains highly differentiated across the European Union. Practical Implications: The findings highlight the need for further investment in digital technologies and the development of technological and organisational capabilities in the transport and warehousing sector. Particular attention should be given to countries with lower levels of technological development, where targeted measures supporting technology adoption, digital competence development and organisational transformation may contribute to reducing disparities between EU Member States and strengthening the competitiveness of the sector. Originality/Value: The study contributes to the literature by providing a multidimensional comparative assessment of digital and technological development in the transport and warehousing sector across the EU Member States. The application of the Hellwig synthetic measure enables the simultaneous consideration of several dimensions of digitalisation and technological development and provides a comprehensive basis for identifying differences between countries.