Application of Grey Relational Analysis to Determine Key Factors for Investment of Overseas Branch by Logistics Industry ─ U.S. Market as an Example

The business opportunity and scale of American logistics market are important to global logistics operators. Logistics operators in Taiwan are facing the unavoidable question of establishing multinational logistics organizations and strengthening the strategic operational planning in line with international practice. Thus, they will encounter opportunities and challenges when expanding their scale and marching into American market. Meanwhile, unfamiliarity with new market and adoption of inappropriate strategy will deteriorate their performance. When Taiwanese logistics operators invest in American logistics market to expand their scale, they are bound to encounter difficulties and challenges. These possible difficulties and challenges can be identified through interview with high-profile executives from American logistics companies. This paper looks for key factors for entry into American market through grey relational analysis to enable logistics operators to penetrate a new market rapidly, provide services in conformity to local demand or rapidly respond to trade competition, obtain advantages, expand their scale, and even find new niche markets.