3.3.2. Results after Alliance

After selecting LO10 as the target enterprise, the authors combined it with nine other businesses to create virtual alliances. Then, the authors evaluated the business performance of these alliances.

From the results in Table 9 and Figure 13, it is shown that, when implementing the LO10 alliance with other enterprises, it can bring better business performance for those enterprises. However, there are also alliances of LO10 with other businesses that do not achieve better business performance. The authors divided enterprises into two groups of alliances as follows:

Group 1: The alliances are not really suitable, as they have not brought good business results (shown in Table 10). Specifically, those alliances are: LO9 + LO10; LO2 + LO10; LO5 + LO10; LO3 + LO10. These alliances make businesses less efficient. Therefore, these alliances are not recommended.

Group 2: These alliances bring good business results for enterprises (shown in Table 11). Specifically, those alliances are: LO7 + LO10; LO1 + LO10; LO4 + LO10; LO8 + LO10; LO6 + LO10. These alliances are therefore encouraged.

Among the above alliances, the alliance between LO7 and LO10 achieved the highest business efficiency (RankLO7+LO10 = 4/19) (ScoreLO7+LO10 = 1.2060). LO7 (Transimex corporation transimex) in Ho Chi Minh City was established in 1983, specializing in import and export goods transportation, bonded warehouse services, CFS warehouse, cold storage, warehousing, loading and unloading, and storing goods. The location is convenient; so, in the future, LO7 will become one of the most competitive enterprises in the market. Moreover, the geographical advantage of these enterprises can help the parties save many logistical costs (LO10 in the north, LO7 in the south). These two businesses have the advantage of all forms of transportation.


**Table 8.** Rank and score before alliances (calculated by researcher).

**Figure 12.** Score efficiency of LOs before alliances (source: researcher).

By road: LO10 in Hai Phong City–LO7 in HCM City which is 1654.3 km apart (via National Highway 1A).

Waterway: LO10 is near Hai Phong port; LO7 is near Cat Lai port in Ho Chi Minh City. By air: LO10 is near Cat Bi airport, while LO7 is near Tan Son Nhat airport.

By railway: LO10 is near Hai Phong station, LO7 is near Saigon station.

Therefore, the alliance of LO10 and LO7 is very convenient regarding all forms of transportation. These businesses can maximize each other's advantages, forming a win– win relationship.

According to statistics, logistics costs in Vietnam are still very high because about 70–75% of transport routes only carry one-way goods. When LO7 and LO10 create an alliance, they can exploit freight in the opposite direction and save a lot of costs, such as material costs, personnel costs, road and bridge costs, and the cost of vehicle wear and tear. The alliance helps businesses access and share customers, increase revenue, and take advantage of economies of scale. This alliance will increase the competitive advantage for both parties. This is considered a reasonable tactic for LO7 and LO10 during this pandemic period, and today's rapidly changing era of science, technology, and engineering. When implementing the alliance, businesses will solve difficult problems during and after the pandemic, aiming for sustainable development together. As every business is a cell of the economy, any business that survives and prospers will create a great impetus for the national and world economy to recover and develop rapidly.


**Table 9.** Performance ranking of virtual LOs (calculated by researcher).

**Figure 13.** Score efficiency of virtual alliances (source: researcher).

**Table 10.** The alliances are not really suitable (calculated by researcher).



**Table 11.** The good alliances (calculated by researcher).
