Int. J Sup. Chain. Mgt Vol. 9, No. 6, December 2020 72 The Lead Logistics Provider (LLP) Concept: Case Studies Zoltán Valentinyi #+1 , Zita Fodor *2 , Csaba Balogh +3 , Anna Dunay *4 # Doctoral School of Management and Business Administration, Szent István University, H-2100 Gödöllő, Páter K. u. 1. Hungary +HAVI Logistics Kft. 2360 Gyál, Bem József utca 30. Hungary * Institute of Business Economics, Leadership and Management, Szent István University, H-2100 Gödöllő, Páter K. u. 1. Hungary 1 Zoltan.Valentinyi@havi.com 2 Fodor.Zita@szie.hu 3 Csaba.Balogh@havi.com 4 Dunay.Anna@szie.hu Corresponding Author E-mail Address: Dunay.Anna@szie.hu Abstract— Researches, literature reviews and professional experiences show that traditional logistics services were precisely defined and differentiated in the past 30 years, but Industry 4.0 brings additional service opportunities for leading logistics service providers and for their customers. New circumstances may improve supply chain efficiency by remodelling the solutions and responsibilities of the different cooperating partners. The aim of the paper is to summarize the definitions of the different traditional and more developed logistics service providers and to create and propose a standard definition for the Lead Logistics Providers, based on the LLP studies and key characters of the existing LLP services. Based on a desk research (literature review and document analysis) and using the professional experience of authors, the analysis focuses on the advanced services by looking at the content and service elements of some leading logistics service companies. Conclusion of the research is that leading service providers offer quite wide range of services which is difficult to standardize in terms of creating a standard definition as it’s available for 1-2- 3 PL logistics service providers. Therefore, the introduction and generic definition is proposed from the time being for the Lead Logistics Providers. In the light of Industry 4.0 the coming years might clarify the content and meaning of additional PL levels, such as 5, 6, or higher PL levels. Keywords— logistics service providers, LLP services, trust, innovation, performance 1. Introduction Nowadays we can clearly state that logistics plays tensile force in modifying, rationalizing and influencing production and service companies’ and industries’ changing trends, daily routines, including its operational, also practical details. The successful use of logistics service providers (LSPs) is based on building long-term relationships with customers [1]. The design of these cross-firm relationships influences the LSPs’ success. If it does not designed correctly, the relationship between the LSP and customer may suffer from a lack of specific expertise, unmatched expectations, and poor communications [2], [3]. It can be expected that the more intensive cooperation amongst partners, the higher operational potentials in the field of savings and increasing efficiency [4]. Supply chain risks tend to paralyze most supply chains. Successful companies are able to break the risk spiral by restoring trust within the supply chain through the chain. The benefit goes far beyond cost reduction, reducing market risks and increasing sales and market share, penetrating new markets, and rapidly introducing new products [5], [6]. That trust plays a determining role in the establishment of the strategic relations of the different companies [6]. Trust means the belief that the partner will behave correctly and act according to its commitments. The established system of relationships determines how the industry develops and how individual companies are able to follow and manage this development [7]. Management of a company shall face three important challenges in the process of building partnerships: the definition of the real main activities and the establishment of the company's ______________________________________________________________ International Journal of Supply Chain Management IJSCM, ISSN: 2050-7399 (Online), 2051-3771 (Print) Copyright © ExcelingTech Pub, UK (http://excelingtech.co.uk/)