ABSTRACT
It is difficult to predict what will happen tomorrow, let alone predict the future of 3PLs in the coming decade. After all, in early 2020, who could have foreseen the upheaval the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to supply chains across the globe? Faced with so much uncertainty, one may want to take the approach of many futurists who think about time in a different way. Instead of thinking in linear terms and throwing darts several years into the future, they start with identifying more highly probable events in the short term and work outward (Webb, 2019). So, while we do not own a crystal ball, we are convinced that two currently emerging aspects, you could call them trends, will shape the foreseeable future of third-party logistics providers (3PLs). First, pronounced technological advancements pertaining to hardware and software increasingly impact the future of corporate supply chain management. Second, elements and events within supply chains are getting more difficult to predict. Looking at the next five to ten years, 3PLs will need to proactively address these trends because it directly influences the 3PLs success and because it influences the 3PLs' clients' success and their associated demand for logistics services. While both trends raise challenges, they also offer ample opportunities for 3PLs by enhancing their current services and developing new offerings. For this, 3PLs need to enhance their leadership and management skills. Moreover, 3PL need to emphasize establishing and managing collaborative relationships. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023. All rights reserved.