E-COMMERCE UTILIZATION AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF FROZEN PRODUCT DISTRIBUTORS IN SELECTED PHILIPPINE PROVINCES: A CORRELATION STUDY

This research investigated how the use of e-commerce affects the operational effectiveness of frozen food distributors in Quezon and Batangas provinces in the Philippines. During an e-commerce surge worldwide, firms have increasingly considered online platforms to ensure continued operations and respond to evolving customer needs. Yet, little is known about the direct influences of e-commerce on frozen food distribution. This study sought to establish how e-commerce on frozen food distribution. This study sought to establish how e-commerce affects operational effectiveness along major dimensions such as sourcing of supplies, process improvement, cost control, quality control, time management, and innovation, and to evaluate its overall effect on resource utilization, systems and procedures, supply chain management, and customer satisfaction. Utilization, systems and procedures, supply chain management, and customer satisfaction. Utilizing descriptive-correlational design, data were gathered from 150 business owners and operations personnel through a validated self-developed questionnaire. The tool tapped quantitative data on demographic and business profiles, e-commerce usage levels in different aspects of operations, and perceived operational effectiveness. Frequency counts, weighted means, standard deviations, and Spearman Rho Rank Correlation were used as statistical tools in analyzing the data. The results show that e-commerce is utilized efficiently to maximize supply sourcing, process streamline, improve cost control, strengthen quality control, and enhance time management in frozen food distribution. Although e-commerce innovations are applied moderately, their potential is still underutilized. Strong correlations between e-commerce adoption in supply sourcing, process improvement, cost control, and time management with resource utilization and customer satisfaction improvements were established, while its influence on system, procedures, and supply chain efficiency was insignificant. These findings indicate that while e-commerce significantly improves operational efficiency in some key areas, there is still a need for additional strategic integration in order to best realize its potential benefits across all aspects of operations, hence providing valuable recommendation for industry stakeholders who want to increase competitiveness and service quality.