by Walther Ploos van Amstel
Widespread adoption of green vehicles in urban logistics may contribute to the alleviation of problems such as environmental pollution, global warming, and oil dependency. A recent paper by Patella et. al. presents a comprehensive literature review on studies investigating the adoption of green vehicles in city logistics, paying specific attention to e-commerce.
The paradigms of the on-demand economy and e-commerce let emerge, new business models, challenging the success of non-digital native companies. Delivery options are no longer driven by the supplier, but more and more influenced by the customers’ preferences, with a consequent disruptive impact on the delivery process, and city logistics in particular.
The growth in e‐commerce has led to increased pressure within the courier, express, and parcel (CEP) sector to tackle the ‘last‐mile’ issue and come up with solutions that not only satisfy the customers, but also other stakeholders such as city councils and other regulatory bodies. Scholars have highlighted micro‐hubs and the associated horizontal collaboration as …
Urban deliveries are a crucial cog of most supply chains. Are sustainable options like e-vehicles and cargo bikes making inroads? In this video, the environment and transport journalist Sam Morgan explores the potential of last-mile deliveries with the expertise of Morten Kabell, urbanist and co-CEO of the European Cyclists’ Federation, and Adrian Hiel from Energy …
Courier, express, and parcel (CEP) services represent one of the most challenging and dynamic sectors of the logistics industry. Companies in this sector must solve several challenges to keep up with the rapid changes in the market. In this context, the introduction of autonomous delivery using self-driving trucks might be an appropriate solution to overcome …
Parcel delivery operators experience increasing pressure to meet the growing demand for delivery services while protecting city livability and the environment. Improving the performance of the last mile of delivery is considered key in meeting this challenge as it forms the most inefficient, expensive, and environmentally unfriendly part of delivery operations.
Current urban city logistics literature often claims that rising e‐commerce and the associated courier‐, express, and parcel‐ (CEP) deliveries are inherently responsible for the increase in urban road traffic and the related congestion, disturbances, and delays within cities.
In developing economies, nano stores in urban and rural areas face different infrastructural, operational, and financial challenges. How can urban nano stores compete with supermarket chains as they enter the market? How can rural nano stores provide more services at affordable prices to sustain their operations?
The combined development of different emerging technologies (e.g. smart sensors, blockchain, artificial intelligence) boosts innovations in smart mobility. The increasing pressure on achieving societal goals within the transport sector (e.g. decarbonization, improving traffic safety, reducing congestion) will be another driver for smart mobility. TNO and CE Delft report about it.
In recent years, many meal delivery platform providers (e.g., Uber Eats, GrubHub, DoorDash, Deliveroo) with different kinds of business models have entered the markets in cities around the world. Meal delivery platforms like Uber Eats shape the landscape in cities around the world.