Cross-Border Coordination, Shipment Data Reliability, and Logistics Cost Control in Multinational Inbound Supply Chains : A qualitative case study of shipment data reliability in Flokk AB’s inbound supply chain

Sammanfattning

Every freight invoice has a story behind it. Customer places an order, a supplier packs the goods, a carrier books and transports them, the warehouse receives the shipment, and finance eventually pays the invoice. Because no single actor has the full picture, it becomes difficult to properly verify and control the logistics costs. This thesis looks at how cross-border coordination affects the reliability of shipment data and the company’s ability to control logistics costs. It is based on a single qualitative case study of Flokk AB’s inbound supply chain. The empirical material consists of six semi-structured interviews with employees from supply chain, purchasing, finance, logistics, and digital transformation, along with a review of one full year of inbound shipment documents and invoices. The analysis draws on agency theory and transaction cost theory, as well as literature on supply chain visibility and digital tools. It follows an abductive approach and uses thematic analysis. The study identifies three missing links in the shipment data chain: (1) incomplete internal master data on packaging and volume, (2) limited visibility into supplier booking information, and (3) a weak connection between carrier charges, agreed contract rules, and the actual operational shipment data. These gaps help explain why logistics cost control often stays reactive, manual, and dependent on individual experience and trust. It is not because any party is acting dishonestly, but because the information chain is incomplete and disconnected across organisational boundaries. The findings also show that AI-supported tools cannot create visibility on their own. They only become useful once the underlying data is properly structured, data responsibilities are clearly assigned, and the people involved use the tools in their daily work. The thesis adds to research on international business and supply chain coordination by showing how information asymmetry can create real control problems, even when all actors behave in good faith. For managers, the key message is clear: effective logistics cost control needs to start well before the invoice arrives. Instead of trying to check every shipment in detail, companies could benefit from a risk-based approach that focuses on the shipments and suppliers where uncertainty is highest.