Zaragoza Logistics Center promotes sustainable outsourcing in the logistics and transport sector
Zaragoza Logistics Center (ZLC) has presented its “Guide for Socially Responsible Outsourcing: Key Performance and Impact Indicators”, designed to support companies through the outsourcing process while considering both social impact and operational performance.
This initiative was developed within the framework of the ReSChape project, launched after the Covid-19 pandemic and funded by the European Union to analyze and assess supply chain impacts and disruptions, with the aim of increasing their resilience to global shocks.
Within the logistics and transport sector, outsourcing is a tool that allows companies to optimize operations, reduce costs, and increase flexibility and production capacity. However, this strategy can also have social and economic consequences regarding employee working conditions, wage inequalities, safety, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and reputation.
“It is essential to balance the benefits of outsourcing with business sustainability and social commitment,” said Alicia Martínez de Yuso, ReSChape researcher and Project Manager at ZLC.
Roadmap
The guide stems from a study on outsourcing in the sector carried out in recent years as part of the ReSChape Project. Its goal is to provide companies with a structured roadmap to measure and improve the social impact of their outsourcing strategies. To this end, the guide focuses on several key areas and suggests a set of KPIs for implementation and monitoring: working conditions, wages and bargaining power, regulatory and sustainability aspects, and operational and financial performance.
Additionally, it details the process of defining KPIs based on academic research, expert insights, and contributions from HR specialists, as well as their effective implementation, review, and communication to foster continuous improvement. It also includes recommendations and practical case studies. The document offers a methodological approach to ensure that results accurately reflect true social progress and the ethical commitment of organizations.
According to Alicia Martínez de Yuso, ReSChape researcher and Project Manager at ZLC:
“Outsourcing employees for non-core logistics functions helps reduce costs and streamline operations, but it also creates external dependencies that pose challenges related to working conditions, safety, or training. As the sector evolves, and in the current context of high demand for professionals, it is crucial to balance the benefits of outsourcing with business sustainability and social responsibility.”