Imagine picking up a parcel for your neighbor simply because it’s on your way home. It may sound unusual, but the concept of crowd shipping is being seriously explored as a smart and sustainable way to complete the “last mile” of a parcel’s journey. TU Delft researcher Patrick Stokkink is diving into how this new approach to delivery could work in practice.
Instead of relying on traditional courier services, crowd shipping taps into the existing movements of everyday people. Think of someone who regularly commutes between Amsterdam and Rotterdam for work or study. Rather than sending a delivery van across the same route, a platform could match this commuter with someone needing a parcel delivered between the two cities. The commuter picks it up and drops it off at the destination—or a nearby pick-up point.
While this example focuses on intercity deliveries, the concept is equally powerful within cities. A student cycling to university, for example, could easily deliver a small parcel for a neighbor along their route. It’s a smart way to utilize trips people are already taking.
Sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective
According to Stokkink, the benefits are clear. “Crowdshipping makes better use of existing travel, reduces CO₂ emissions, and cuts down on traffic congestion—especially when deliveries are done by bike, foot, or public transport.” Additionally, with fewer dedicated delivery trips required, businesses and consumers alike can expect lower costs.
In the long run, crowd shipping could even replace part of the services now provided by big delivery companies like PostNL and DHL, especially in cities like Amsterdam, where restrictions on delivery vans are tightening.
Willingness to pay and willingness to deliver
Importantly, crowd shipping isn’t about doing favors—senders pay deliverers. However, there’s a challenge: research shows a mismatch between what senders are willing to pay and what deliverers expect to earn. So far, the idea seems most appealing to people with lower incomes, such as students. Stokkink’s research among bachelor students showed enthusiasm for the model.
In Spain, one interesting project even utilizes crowd shipping to create work opportunities for individuals who face barriers to the traditional labor market, thereby turning it into a tool for social inclusion.
The challenge of reliability
Of course, there are hurdles to overcome. Unlike professional couriers, crowd shippers might not always guarantee delivery times. There are also concerns about safety and security: senders want to trust their deliverers, and deliverers need to be sure they’re not carrying anything prohibited. Robust identity verification, tracking systems, and insurance options can help, but they also bring additional costs and complexities. Privacy regulations are another factor to consider.
Interestingly, in the U.S., France, and Belgium, crowd shipping has been successfully introduced in supermarkets, where shoppers deliver groceries to their neighbors. Familiarity and trust between people seem to be key ingredients for success.
Building a strong platform
For crowdshipping to work on a larger scale, especially in busy cities, an efficient and dynamic platform is crucial. Research suggests that offering variable rewards based on the difficulty of the delivery can boost participation. Smart apps that accurately match parcels with available crowd shippers in real-time will be the backbone of any successful system.
Despite the challenges, crowd shipping offers exciting potential to reshape urban logistics. Using trips people are already making could make deliveries more sustainable, reduce traffic congestion, and lower emissions. With the right technology, strong platforms, and clear policies, crowds crowd shipping becomes a key player in the delivery networks of the future—keeping cities greener, cleaner, and better connected.
Source: TU Delft
Also read this thesis: Tang, K. (2024). Crowdshipping as a delivery solution for outlier parcels: A case study in The Hague (Master’s thesis, Delft University of Technology). Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.
Also read: Plezier in social delivery is cruciaal