In this paper, we analyze the route efficiency trade-offs that emerge from combining first-mile pickup and last-mile delivery operations in an urban distribution system. We build on the extant literature on continuum approximation of optimal route distances and propose adjustment factors that account for the effects of integrated pickup and delivery operations. By means of comprehensive numerical experiments and regression analysis, we further propose a set of closed-form adjustment factors that improve existing continuum approximation-based route length estimations. These adjustment factors incorporate some non-trivial route efficiency trade-offs emerging from first-mile and last-mile integration that cannot easily be captured through continuum approximation. The proposed extensions are particularly relevant for the optimal strategic design and operational planning of large-scale, high-density last-mile distribution systems that are gaining in importance in light of e-commerce and omni-channel retailing. Our analyses suggest that the efficiency gains emerging from integrating first-mile pickup and last-mile delivery operations can be as high as 30%. However, the effective efficiency gains are sensitive to vehicle capacity constraints and other factors complicating the optimal stop sequence in integrated routes. We apply our proposed method to a real-world case study informed by operational data from one of India’s largest e-commerce platforms for the city of Bengaluru. We find that by properly integrating its first-mile and last-mile operations, the company could reduce its urban traffic and emissions impact by up to 16%, while increasing the asset utilization and reducing the cost of operations of its vehicle fleet.
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In this paper, we analyze the route efficiency trade-offs that emerge from combining first-mile pickup and last-mile delivery operations in an urban distribution system. We build on the extant literature on continuum approximation of optimal route distances and propose adjustment factors that account for the effects of integrated pickup and delivery operations. By means of comprehensive numerical experiments and regression analysis, we further propose a set of closed-form adjustment factors that improve existing continuum approximation-based route length estimations. These adjustment factors incorporate some non-trivial route efficiency trade-offs emerging from first-mile and last-mile integration that cannot easily be captured through continuum approximation. The proposed extensions are particularly relevant for the optimal strategic design and operational planning of large-scale, high-density last-mile distribution systems that are gaining in importance in light of e-commerce and omni-channel retailing. Our analyses suggest that the efficiency gains emerging from integrating first-mile pickup and last-mile delivery operations can be as high as 30%. However, the effective efficiency gains are sensitive to vehicle capacity constraints and other factors complicating the optimal stop sequence in integrated routes. We apply our proposed method to a real-world case study informed by operational data from one of India’s largest e-commerce platforms for the city of Bengaluru. We find that by properly integrating its first-mile and last-mile operations, the company could reduce its urban traffic and emissions impact by up to 16%, while increasing the asset utilization and reducing the cost of operations of its vehicle fleet.
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Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for nearly 55% of Indian population, feeding 1.3 billion people and contributing significantly to the country GDP. Tractors play a crucial role in increasing agricultural productivity. Indian tractor industry has come a long way in terms of production capacity and technology in last few decades. Govt. of India is promoting eco-friendly vehicles through Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles (FAME) scheme. This paper presents a review of Indian tractor market and points out the government measures to curb the air pollution due to agricultural machinery. Incorporation of electric drives in tractor and agricultural machinery offer several advantages including better energy efficiency and expanded functionalities. State-of-art electric vehicle technologies and latest electric tractors being introduced worldwide are presented in this work. The article discusses the benefits of electrification of farm machinery and present the challenges in its implementation for agricultural in India. Though high torque, low maintenance, low operational cost and zero emissions are strong reasons for electric tractor adoption, however, very high initial cost, lack of charging infrastructure and lack awareness towards vehicle emissions are major deterrents.
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This paper's research aims to understand how e-retailers can benefit from independent contractors' (delivery drivers') agile engagement under time-based marketing promise (TBMP) to advance sustainable logistics value creation in the urbanised last-mile-delivery (ULMD) environment. Our analysis of independent drivers' narratives (n = 30) reveals that sustainable logistics value can be apprehended through a process in which independent workers are both agenced by their leveraging of technologisation and task autonomy and concerned by the mobilisation of other ULMD stakeholders. They thus can propose novel, creative solutions for e-retailers and city planners towards sustainable logistics value creation.
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This study reviews actions taken by large companies in India to conform to environmental sustainability with a particular focus concerning road transport. The case study method was adopted. This entailed the researcher completing a questionnaire at face-to-face discussions with key informants in different companies across different industry sectors. The findings reveal significant congruence in adopting sustainability practices at business unit levels in general across diverse industry sectors but vary significantly in the transportation area due to segment-specific nuances. Further, it is seen that the sustainability steps are quite dependent on the nature of the products, cost of distribution related to the delivery points, and required reach of material. Research also shows that the stature of the companies expressly warrants that their policies and programs address the subject of sustainability in areas other than logistics and transportation. While this study is done across industry segments/verticals, it would be appropriate to investigate organizations within the same industry type to also establish if competition influences the width and depth of sustainability steps being taken by the Indian organizations.
Cities crave innovative logistics solutions dealing with the requirements of the ‘on demand economy’. The paper estimates the willingness to act as a crowdshipper (supply) and to buy a crowdshipping service (demand) to get goods delivered/picked-up in the last mile B2C e-commerce situation. Specifically, it innovates by considering an environmental-friendly crowdshipping based on the use of the mass transit network of the city where parcels customers/crowdshippers pick-up/drop-off goods in automated parcel lockers located either inside the transit stations or in the surroundings. This issue is very important since “standard” crowdshipping is usually not able to reduce congestion and polluting emissions due to the dedicated trips performed using private motorized vehicles. The paper rests on an extensive stated preference survey. The hypothetical scenarios used to acquire both demand (customers’) and supply (crowdshippers’) preferences make use of the most relevant attributes emerging from a preliminary investigation performed in the study context. The investigation is performed in the city of Rome and the metro is the transit system considered. The results are useful in understanding and quantifying the potential of this freight transport strategy for e-commerce in an urban context and in providing local policy makers with a good knowledge base for its future development.
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This paper provides a review of models and decision support systems for urban freight transport (UFT). The originality of this study is that the analysis framework has been developed to outline the progress on UFT specifically related to the sustainability issue. Accordingly, contributions regarding UFT and addressing at least one factor of sustainability have been analysed by cross-referencing categories of models with impacts on sustainability. Results from this work are supposed to help enhance research concerning operations research (OR) for sustainable UFT by pointing out gaps that need to be closed and opportunities for future research. There is also an attempt to understand what is stopping researchers from including selected sustainability factors in the optimisation models. This paper also finally proposes some developments, not only in the OR field, that are preparatory for elaborating new models or improving the existing ones.
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The paper focuses on the case study of the Venice Lagoon, where islands—despite representing a relevant feature of urban planning—face a tremendous lack of accessibility, depopulation, social cohesion and they turn out to be poorly connected. By developing an original scenario-building methodological framework and performing data collection activities, the purpose of the paper consists of assessing the feasibility of a mixed passenger and freight transport system —sometimes called cargo hitching. Mixed passenger and freight systems/cargo hitching are considered as an innovative framework based on the integration of freight and passenger urban systems and resources to optimize the existing transport capacity, and thus, urban sustainability. Results show that the overall existing urban transport capacity can accommodate urban freight flows on main connections in the Lagoon. The reduction in spare public transport capacity, as well as in the number (and type) of circulating freight boats show—in various scenarios—the degree of optimization of the resulting urban network configuration and the positive impacts on urban sustainability. This paves the way for the regulatory framework to adopt proposed solutions
The fast-growing practice of e-commerce implies a strong increase in parcel deliveries, which in turn creates significant pressure on last-mile city logistics. Due to the important role the city transportation plays in energy use and greenhouse gas emission, effective last-mile solutions in cities must be developed to contribute to sustainability and a cleaner world economy. Crowdsourced delivery as an emerging “sharing economy” initiative can be an effective tool to mitigate the problems emerging from the last-mile city logistics. To valorise the benefits of crowdsourced delivery, a transition towards a hybrid city logistic system is required where crowdsourced delivery and the conventional delivery networks are closely integrated. Due to the lack of theoretical guidelines for crowdsourced delivery integration, this research develops a conceptual framework to facilitate last-mile city logistics transition adopting the multi-level socio-technical transition theory as the basis. The core of the conceptual framework is the “five basic principles” to be followed by stakeholders when designing intervening niche innovations at the current stage of system transition. To demonstrate the usability of the conceptual framework, an illustrative discrete event simulation study with specific settings that fits in with the current status of last-mile city logistics is conducted. Results show that incorporating crowdsourced delivery as a supplement to the conventional delivery network, following the five basic principles proposed by the conceptual framework can reduce the last-mile logistic costs. Moreover, the offline participation rate plays a key role in ensuring the feasibility of the new hybrid last-mile model. To conclude, the developed conceptual framework has a great potential of improving last-mile delivery in the era of e-commerce and having a critical scale of potential deliverer pool is the prerequisite for the successful application of crowdsourced deliveries.
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Urban population growth has permanently increased the commodity demands and freight flow within urban areas. The retail/postal industry is intent on finding appropriate internal approaches and a new business model to respond to the adverse impacts generated by urban freight activities. Usage of emerging transport modes is an efficient solution for these industries. Nevertheless, considerable research has paid less attention to the implementation status of distribution innovations, as well as to their suitability and application restrictions. Concurrently, a comprehensive consideration of various distribution innovations that operate together as a system is lacking. To this end, this paper adopted a literature review method and GE multifactorial analysis. Specifically, this paper reviewed the related articles that were published in the past six years (2013–2018) to define the concept of distribution innovations. In addition, we adopted the approach of GE multifactorial analysis to analyze the application status of distribution innovations from the perspective of academic research and company implementation. Following the suitability assessment and application of restriction analysis, we proposed the concept of sustainable inner-urban intermodal transport (SIUIT) for the retail/postal industry. This paper contributes to the sustainable urban freight literature by exploring possible future research directions of SIUIT
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