http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/11762 2026-04-04T10:50:06Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/20486 Cost-Benefit Analysis of Mobile Payment Platforms in the Pakistan Supply Chain: A Case Study of EasyPaisa Anwar Zeb, 01-322232-035; Chen Yong, 01-322232-007; Yang XiaoMan, 01-322232-033 This study evaluates the cost-benefit performance of EasyPaisa, a prominent mobile payment platform in Pakistan, from the perspective of consumers engaged in informal and semi-formal supply chains. Recognizing the growing role of mobile finance in digitally transforming economic transactions, the research adopts a method approach to explore the quantitative indicators. Quantitative data were collected via a structured questionnaire from 118 active users. A theoretical cost-benefit framework, grounded in behavioral economics, was employed to examine the influence of perceived costs (e.g., service charges, security risks) and perceived benefits (e.g., convenience, transaction speed, user empowerment) on overall user perception. Reliability testing confirmed strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α > 0.77), and statistical analysis using SPSS revealed that perceived benefits had a significant positive effect on overall perception (β = 0.690, p < 0.001), whereas perceived costs exerted a moderate negative influence (β = –0.274, p < 0.001), explaining over 61% of the total variance. The study concludes that EasyPaisa offers net positive utility to most users, particularly in terms of convenience and accessibility, yet its long-term sustainability in low-income segments may be threatened by fee sensitivity and inconsistent support mechanisms. Based on the findings, the study proposes strategic recommendations including: introducing tiered pricing structures, expanding multilingual UI support, enhancing human-centered customer service, and promoting financial literacy programs in underserved regions. This research adds to the growing conversation around mobile financial services in emerging economies by offering a well-rounded evaluation framework that considers both practical financial factors and the real-world experiences of users. The insights and model developed here could be useful for platform providers, policymakers, and development organizations working to improve digital access and streamline payments in complex supply chains. Supervised by Dr. Shahab 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/20488 Astore – Optimizing E-Commerce Supply Chain for Bags and Accessories Amna Yaqoob, 01-322232-036; Fatima Sajid, 01-322232-046; Xhi Junxi, 01-222231-020 This is the project about the assessment and a redesign of the supply chain of Astore, the e-commerce business company located in Pakistan and dealing in the segment of eco-friendly, sustainable leather goods and fashion accessories. In as much as Astore has a well-established brand positioning and they adhere to ethical sourcing; they are still limited by some impeding issues in their supply chain activities. These are slow deliveries, costly shipping charges, poor visibility of inventories, inconsistent performance of the suppliers, poor management of returns, and limited applications of new technology. This project has the goal of developing a viable and proactive supply chain model that fits the brand of Astore and its aspirations to grow. Based on a careful diagnosis of the existing operating framework, supported by internal data, benchmarking against competitors in the market, interviews with stakeholders and the academic research literature, the project has singled out the root causes of the existing inefficiencies to propose some practical solutions that would covers five major areas: improvement of its logistics network, reverse logistics development, managing relationships with suppliers, and optimization of inventory and digital transformation. The strategic resourcing options are collaboration with third-party logistics (3PL) companies, implementation of micro-fulfillment stations in the areas where the demand is high, introduction of the AI-based tools of route optimization, ERP/WMS systems, and forecasting demand and inventory planning. By implementing KPI-based contracts and quarterly review cycles, supplier involvement will be enhanced, whereas the returns procedure will become digitized to be more transparent and convenient to the customers. In conclusion, the supply chain redesign will help in lowering the expenses involved in operations, increase delivery speed, customer satisfaction and strengthen the market leadership of Astore as a sustainable fashion retailer. The project provides a phased implementation plan over 12 months that would easily transform the supply chain to a technology based, agile and eco aligned e-commerce supply chain. Supervised by Ms. Javeria Aftab 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/20487 Optimizing E-Commerce Supply Chains: A Case of Inventory Management and Logistics Efficiency of Daraz Raghib Sattar, 01-321241-013; Hadiqa Sohail, 01-221241-005 Solving some key operational challenges that Daraz experiences is one of the major goals of this project. E-commerce is now being discussed in many countries around the world. Because of technological progress and challenges caused by Covid-19, it’s getting easier for E-commerce platforms to be part of everyone’s daily routine. The pandemic caused online shopping to grow rapidly, since staying at home made it difficult for many people to shop in physical stores and mostly pushed them to order products they needed from home. The research project seeks to determine what affects people’s use of E-commerce platforms for shopping online, with a particular focus on Daraz which is a popular platform selling various products. It gives special attention to major developments, like using IoT monitors, applying prediction algorithms for travel routes and having blockchain as the base for customs documentation. Improvements and updates to roads, warehousing automation and aerial transport have much bettered shipping, checking stock and reducing expenses. Knowing that efficiency and sustainability improve logistics operations, this study aims to propose strategies based on a descriptive approach and external data sources. What we found proves the importance of having strong and adjustable strategies for supply chains during unplanned issues. As a result, we have prepared a detailed strategy for inventory management and introduced several measures to help the organization manage unexpected problems. The planned actions are developed to apply starting in 2025 and help companies work more efficiently in how they handle operations. The logistics and supply chain processes are very important in these systems. Ensuring success in logistics and supply chains mainly depends on using modeling and simulation with reliable and mathematical models. It points out how ecommerce prioritizes customers and looks at ways to optimize logistics through modeling and simulations. Supervised by Ms. Javeria Aftab 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/20489 Addressing Supply Chain challenges for D.Watson in Pakistan’s Pharmaceutical Sector Abu Bakr Rehman, 01-321241-001; Uzair Ahmad, 01-321241-015 This research looks into the supply chain challenges faced by D. Watson, a well-established pharmacy chain in Pakistan. It begins by outlining the growth of the pharmaceutical industry, highlighting recent trends and examining the regulatory framework that influences how companies in this sector operate. Focusing on D. Watson as a case example, the study identifies a range of persistent issues. These include difficulties in meeting compliance requirements, unreliable relationships with suppliers, problems with forecasting customer demand, and inefficiencies in inventory management. The company also struggles with a limited use of modern technology and is affected by broader external factors such as political instability and frequent energy shortages. To better understand the environment in which D. Watson operates, the study uses strategic tools including SWOT analysis, PESTEL, and Porter’s Five Forces. These frameworks help analyze the internal and external factors shaping the company’s supply chain performance. The findings point to an urgent need for improved technological integration, stronger and more reliable supplier networks, and better systems for managing inventory and mitigating risk. The study concludes by offering practical recommendations that could enhance the overall efficiency and resilience of D. Watson’s supply chain. These suggestions may also serve as valuable insights for improving pharmaceutical logistics across Pakistan more broadly. Supervised by Ms. Javeria Aftab 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z