Last-mile delivery is under increasing pressure. With booming e-commerce, growing urban congestion, and mounting sustainability targets, cities struggle to keep deliveries efficient, affordable, and clean. This thesis investigates how optimization models can help last-mile logistics adapt, balancing operational efficiency with environmental and regulatory demands. A recent Ph.D. Thesis by Pinar Ozyavas addresses the issues around optimizing last-mile delivery: smarter models for a complex urban future.
Flexible Couriers, Inefficient Routes
Chapter 2 explores a key challenge in urban logistics: the rise of flexible courier work. While gig economy models offer flexibility, they lead to unpredictable courier availability and logistical inefficiencies. To tackle this, the research introduces an enhanced version of the classic pickup-and-delivery problem that directly incorporates courier shift scheduling into route planning. The results show that by bundling deliveries and assigning shifts more strategically, companies can significantly cut costs and improve overall efficiency.
Smarter Parcel Locker Networks
Chapter 3 shifts focus to parcel lockers—secure, self-service units that serve as both customer pick-up points and transfer nodes for delivery companies. These systems offer a way to reduce driving distances and emissions. The study models this as a variant of the location-routing problem, aiming to identify optimal locker locations, sizes, and delivery routes. A real-world case study confirms the potential: strategically placed lockers reduce emissions and improve delivery efficiency. However, striking the right balance between coverage and cost remains critical.
Shared Mobility for Zero-Emission Deliveries
Chapter 4 explores how shared mobility platforms—like cargo bikes or electric vans—can support sustainable urban logistics. The research develops an optimization model to determine the ideal fleet size and pricing strategies for such a platform. The key insight is that profitability grows with the expansion of the user base. At smaller scales, pricing and fleet adjustments are needed to remain viable. However, as the platform scales, it can maintain performance and affordability with fewer changes.
Across all chapters, the thesis demonstrates how tailored optimization tools can unlock smarter, more sustainable last-mile delivery solutions—just in time for cities facing growing logistical and environmental challenges.