Does logistics standardization affect firms’ intelligent transformation? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China

Using the national logistics service standardization (LSS) pilot as a quasi-natural experiment, we find that LSS pilot is positively associated with firms’ intelligent transformation. Mechanism tests indicate that LSS pilot facilitates corporate intelligent transformation by alleviating financial constraints, enhancing human capital quality, elevating the level of vertical specialization, and expanding market scale. Further analyses show that the relationship between LSS pilot and firms’ intelligent transformation is more pronounced among non-state-owned firms, firms with high sensitivity to logistics efficiency, and labor-intensive firms. Moreover, stronger technological innovation capability, well-developed urban transportation infrastructure, and logistics subsidies provided by the government further amplify the positive effect of LSS pilot on firms’ intelligent transformation. Economic consequence analysis shows that LSS pilot promotes firms’ intelligent transformation, thereby enhancing firms’ total factor productivity. Overall, our findings underscore the role of standardization in facilitating intelligent production.