by Walther Ploos van Amstel
The Physical Internet (PI) is a future vision for fully open and connected logistics networks, in which physical, digital, operational and financial interconnectivity are central. Research has shown that PI offers opportunities for more efficient, bundled and shared, and sustainable logistics, also in urban areas.
More and more young people are moving into cities. To reach this increasingly important market segment, retailers need to find a profitable and efficient way to do urban fulfillment. The CSCMP Supply Chain Quarterly presents an overview of trends and state of art in urban fulfillment.
With the growth of e-retailing, the question of how e-shopping affects shopping travel has attracted increasing attention. To date, however, research has failed to reach a consensus on this topic. Meanwhile, China, where currently the highest level of e-retail shopping in the world takes place, has not in the scope of previous studies.
The UK Government Office for Science presented an evidence review exploring the trends in the UK last mile urban freight, and how users and technology interact with the changing system between now and 2040. It highlights the areas which will be most impacted by the coming changes.
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released an analysis of the impacts of e-commerce trends on the trucking industry, including the challenges and opportunities that more regionalized retail supply chains and the proliferation of urban last mil deliveries have presented.
A study by Capgemini’s in-house digital think tank has revealed that 97% of retailers believe that existing methods of last-mile delivery options are not sustainable. Companies in the food and grocery segment have to catch up with consumer demand for better and faster last-mile delivery services while at the same time mitigating associated profitability risks.
In countries like the UK and the US, retail space is now increasingly being used to accommodate showrooms for online retailers. In their quest for wider audiences, retailers are joining forces with logistics providers to incorporate online sales into their business models.
Brookings is reporting about where will online orders get fulfilled? The changing local geography of e-commerce. Brookings: “As the brick-to-bits transition continues, it’s not enough to just count job and output changes. It’s equally important to know where e-commerce jobs are emerging, especially as it relates to more traditional retail locations”.
We are seeing a growing body of research into last-mile logistics for delivery of products in cities. The growing congestion of cities and the explosion in e-commerce home delivery have challenged traditional last-mile logistics strategies that have focused on point-of-sale delivery. “In the city, shipments are typically much smaller and more fragmented than in regional transport,” …
Automated systems enabling customers to pick-up e-purchased goods from designated 24/7 Parcel Locker pickup points are proliferating. While they offer the promise of improved access to goods and reduced travel for consumers and delivery vehicles, the integration of these systems in cities, and their impact on access, generally and by mode are understudied.