IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/transa/v133y2020icp164-196.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Characterizing urban last-mile distribution strategies in mature and emerging e-commerce markets

Author

Listed:
  • Janjevic, Milena
  • Winkenbach, Matthias

Abstract

E-retailers and other companies participating in the e-commerce supply chain are developing a variety of strategies for last-mile e-commerce distribution in urban areas. These strategies must account for a number of elements of local context which can be particularly challenging in emerging markets. Urban last-mile distribution strategies that are specifically tailored to these markets are rarely discussed in the extant literature. This study uses a combination of literature review and case study analysis to establish an integrated conceptual framework that allows to characterize urban last-mile e-commerce distribution strategies in both mature and emerging markets. We then use this structured framework to perform a review and comparison of different last-mile distribution strategies and highlight variables impacting the choice of network design decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Janjevic, Milena & Winkenbach, Matthias, 2020. "Characterizing urban last-mile distribution strategies in mature and emerging e-commerce markets," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 164-196.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:133:y:2020:i:c:p:164-196
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2020.01.003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856419301065
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tra.2020.01.003?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anna Trentini & Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu & Nicolas Malhéné, 2011. "Développement des espaces logistiques Urbains: CDU et ELP dans l'Europe du Sud-Ouest," Working Papers halshs-00818718, HAL.
    2. Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu, 2013. "Multi-stage LTL transport systems in supply chain management," Post-Print halshs-00796714, HAL.
    3. repec:hal:wpaper:halshs-00796714 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Lim, Stanley Frederick W. T. & Rabinovich, Elliot & Rogers, Dale S. & Lasester, Timothy M., 2016. "Last-mile Supply Network Distribution in Omni-Channel Retailing: A Configuration-Based Typology," Foundations and Trends(R) in Technology, Information and Operations Management, now publishers, vol. 10(1), pages 1-87, November.
    5. Janjevic, Milena & Ndiaye, Alassane, 2017. "Investigating the theoretical cost-relationships of urban consolidation centres for their users," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 98-118.
    6. Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu & Christian Ambrosini & Jean-Louis Routhier, 2012. "New trends on urban goods movement: Modelling and simulation of e-commerce distribution," Post-Print halshs-00626152, HAL.
    7. Zacharias, John & Zhang, Bingjie, 2015. "Local distribution and collection for environmental and social sustainability – tricycles in central Beijing," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 9-15.
    8. Bruno Durand & Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu, 2012. "Impacts of Proximity Deliveries on e-Grocery Trips [L'impact des livraisons de proximité en épicerie électronique]," Post-Print hal-01770407, HAL.
    9. Jean-François Houde & Peter Newberry & Katja Seim, 2017. "Nexus Tax Laws and Economies of Density in E-Commerce: A Study of Amazon’s Fulfillment Center Network," NBER Working Papers 23361, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. Janjevic, Milena & Winkenbach, Matthias & Merchán, Daniel, 2019. "Integrating collection-and-delivery points in the strategic design of urban last-mile e-commerce distribution networks," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 37-67.
    11. Gonzalez Feliu, Jesus & Ambrosini, Christian & Routhier, Jean-Louis, 2012. "New trends on urban goods movement modelling: proximity delivery versus shopping trips," European Transport \ Trasporti Europei, ISTIEE, Institute for the Study of Transport within the European Economic Integration, issue 50, pages 1-2.
    12. Raphaëlle Ducret & Loïc Delaître, 2013. "Parcel Delivery And Urban Logistics- Changes In Urban Courier, Express And Parcel Services: The French Case," Post-Print halshs-00853932, HAL.
    13. Kutzbach, Mark, 2010. "Megacities and Megatraffic," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt2wq039sh, University of California Transportation Center.
    14. Roel Gevaers & Eddy Van de Voorde & Thierry Vanelslander, 2011. "Characteristics and Typology of Last-mile Logistics from an Innovation Perspective in an Urban Context," Chapters, in: Cathy Macharis & Sandra Melo (ed.), City Distribution and Urban Freight Transport, chapter 3, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    15. Dablanc, Laetitia, 2007. "Goods transport in large European cities: Difficult to organize, difficult to modernize," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 280-285, March.
    16. Laetitia Dablanc & Eléonora Morganti & Niklas Arvidsson & Johan Woxenius & Michael Browne & Neila Saidi, 2017. "The Rise of On-Demand 'Instant Deliveries' in European Cities," Post-Print hal-01589316, HAL.
    17. Bailey, Joseph P. & Rabinovich, Elliot, 2005. "Internet book retailing and supply chain management: an analytical study of inventory location speculation and postponement," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 159-177, May.
    18. Julian Allen & Michael Browne & Allan Woodburn & Jacques Leonardi, 2012. "The Role of Urban Consolidation Centres in Sustainable Freight Transport," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(4), pages 473-490, April.
    19. Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu & Guido Perboli & Roberto Tadei & Daniele Vigo, 2008. "The two-echelon capacitated vehicle routing problem," Working Papers halshs-00879447, HAL.
    20. Agatz, Niels A.H. & Fleischmann, Moritz & van Nunen, Jo A.E.E., 2008. "E-fulfillment and multi-channel distribution - A review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 187(2), pages 339-356, June.
    21. Chopra, Sunil, 2003. "Designing the distribution network in a supply chain," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 123-140, March.
    22. Joachim R. Daduna & Barbara Lenz, 2005. "Online Shopping and Changes in Mobility," Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems, in: Bernhard Fleischmann & Andreas Klose (ed.), Distribution Logistics, pages 65-84, Springer.
    23. Baindur, Deepak & Macário, Rosário M., 2013. "Mumbai lunch box delivery system: A transferable benchmark in urban logistics?," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 110-121.
    24. Teodor Gabriel Crainic & Nicoletta Ricciardi & Giovanni Storchi, 2009. "Models for Evaluating and Planning City Logistics Systems," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 43(4), pages 432-454, November.
    25. Alexander Hübner & Andreas Holzapfel & Heinrich Kuhn, 2016. "Distribution systems in omni-channel retailing," Business Research, Springer;German Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 9(2), pages 255-296, August.
    26. Bruno Durand & Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu, 2012. "Impacts of Proximity Deliveries on e-Grocery Trips," Post-Print halshs-00795425, HAL.
    27. Anu Bask & Mervi Lipponen & Markku Tinnilä, 2012. "E-Commerce Logistics: A Literature Research Review and Topics for Future Research," International Journal of E-Services and Mobile Applications (IJESMA), IGI Global, vol. 4(3), pages 1-22, July.
    28. Matthias Winkenbach & Paul R. Kleindorfer & Stefan Spinler, 2016. "Enabling Urban Logistics Services at La Poste through Multi-Echelon Location-Routing," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 50(2), pages 520-540, May.
    29. Mark Xu & Brett Ferrand & Martyn Roberts, 2008. "The last mile of e-commerce – unattended delivery from the consumers and eTailers' perspectives," International Journal of Electronic Marketing and Retailing, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 2(1), pages 20-38.
    30. Wang, James J. & Xiao, Zuopeng, 2015. "Co-evolution between etailing and parcel express industry and its geographical imprints: The case of China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 20-34.
    31. Vieira, José Geraldo Vidal & Fransoo, Jan C. & Carvalho, Carla Deguirmendjian, 2015. "Freight distribution in megacities: Perspectives of shippers, logistics service providers and carriers," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 46-54.
    32. Brian Hwarng & Motoka Mouri, 2015. "TA-Q-BIN, The Last-Mile Delivery," Management for Professionals, in: Ta-Q-Bin, edition 1, chapter 3, pages 23-44, Springer.
    33. Milena Janjevic & Philip Kaminsky & Alassane Ballé Ndiaye, 2013. "Downscaling the consolidation of goods – state of the art and transferability of micro-consolidation initiatives," European Transport \ Trasporti Europei, ISTIEE, Institute for the Study of Transport within the European Economic Integration, issue 54, pages 1-4.
    34. Eléonora Morganti & Laetitia Dablanc & François Fortin, 2014. "Final deliveries for online shopping: the deployment of pickup point networks in urban and suburban areas," Post-Print hal-01067223, HAL.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Onstein, Alexander T.C. & Bharadwaj, Ishani & Tavasszy, Lóránt A. & van Damme, Dick A. & el Makhloufi, Abdel, 2021. "From XXS to XXL: Towards a typology of distribution centre facilities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    2. Janjevic, Milena & Merchán, Daniel & Winkenbach, Matthias, 2021. "Designing multi-tier, multi-service-level, and multi-modal last-mile distribution networks for omni-channel operations," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 294(3), pages 1059-1077.
    3. Renata de Oliveira & Laetitia Dablanc & Matthieu Shorung, 2022. "Changes in warehouse spatial patterns and rental prices: are they related? Exploring the case of US metropolitan areas," Post-Print hal-03944598, HAL.
    4. Juliet Orji, Ifeyinwa & Ojadi, Frank & Kalu Okwara, Ukoha, 2022. "The nexus between e-commerce adoption in a health pandemic and firm performance: The role of pandemic response strategies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 616-635.
    5. Demostenis Ramos Cassiano & Bruno Vieira Bertoncini & Leise Kelli de Oliveira, 2021. "A Conceptual Model Based on the Activity System and Transportation System for Sustainable Urban Freight Transport," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-13, May.
    6. Zhu, Shengda & Bell, Michael G.H. & Schulz, Veronica & Stokoe, Michael, 2023. "Co-modality in city logistics: Sounds good, but how?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    7. Marisdea Castiglione & Antonio Comi & Rosita De Vincentis & Andreea Dumitru & Marialisa Nigro, 2022. "Delivering in Urban Areas: A Probabilistic-Behavioral Approach for Forecasting the Use of Electric Micromobility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-13, July.
    8. Oliveira, Renata Lúcia Magalhães de & Dablanc, Laetitia & Schorung, Matthieu, 2022. "Changes in warehouse spatial patterns and rental prices: Are they related? Exploring the case of US metropolitan areas," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    9. Guarino Neto, Luigi & Geraldo Vidal Vieira, José, 2023. "An investigation of consumer intention to use pick-up point services for last-mile distribution in a developing country," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    10. Rahim, Muddasir & Javed, Muhammad Awais & Alvi, Ahmad Naseem & Imran, Muhammad, 2020. "An efficient caching policy for content retrieval in autonomous connected vehicles," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 142-152.
    11. Difrancesco, Rita Maria & van Schilt, Isabelle M. & Winkenbach, Matthias, 2021. "Optimal in-store fulfillment policies for online orders in an omni-channel retail environment," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 293(3), pages 1058-1076.
    12. Merchán, Daniel & Winkenbach, Matthias & Snoeck, André, 2020. "Quantifying the impact of urban road networks on the efficiency of local trips," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 38-62.
    13. Jiacong Xu & Xuefeng Li & Yiyong Pan & Mingyang Du, 2022. "Satisfaction of Logistics Dispatchers Who Use Electric Tricycles\linebreak for the Last Mile of Delivery: Perspective from Policy Intervention," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-17, June.
    14. Bayliss, Christopher & Bektaş, Tolga & Tjon-Soei-Len, Vernon & Rohner, Remo, 2023. "Designing a multi-modal and variable-echelon delivery system for last-mile logistics," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 307(2), pages 645-662.
    15. Narayanan, Santhanakrishnan & Gruber, Johannes & Liedtke, Gernot & Antoniou, Constantinos, 2022. "Purchase intention and actual purchase of cargo cycles: Influencing factors and policy insights," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 31-45.
    16. Vincent F. Yu & Hadi Susanto & Yu-Hsuan Yeh & Shih-Wei Lin & Yu-Tsung Huang, 2022. "The Vehicle Routing Problem with Simultaneous Pickup and Delivery and Parcel Lockers," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-22, March.
    17. Sören Lauenstein & Christoph Schank, 2022. "Design of a Sustainable Last Mile in Urban Logistics—A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-14, May.
    18. Edgar Gutierrez-Franco & Christopher Mejia-Argueta & Luis Rabelo, 2021. "Data-Driven Methodology to Support Long-Lasting Logistics and Decision Making for Urban Last-Mile Operations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-33, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Beckers, Joris & Cárdenas, Ivan & Verhetsel, Ann, 2018. "Identifying the geography of online shopping adoption in Belgium," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 33-41.
    2. Leonardo N. Rosenberg & Noemie Balouka & Yale T. Herer & Eglantina Dani & Paco Gasparin & Kerstin Dobers & David Rüdiger & Pete Pättiniemi & Peter Portheine & Sonja van Uden, 2021. "Introducing the Shared Micro-Depot Network for Last-Mile Logistics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, February.
    3. Daniele Crotti & Elena Maggi, 2023. "Social Responsibility and Urban Consolidation Centres in Sustainable Freight Transport Markets," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 9(2), pages 829-850, July.
    4. Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu & Josep-Maria Salanova Grau, 2014. "How the location of urban consolidation and logistics facility has an impact on the delivery costs? An accessibility analysis," Post-Print halshs-01053882, HAL.
    5. Janjevic, Milena & Winkenbach, Matthias & Merchán, Daniel, 2019. "Integrating collection-and-delivery points in the strategic design of urban last-mile e-commerce distribution networks," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 37-67.
    6. Kanyarat Nimtrakool & Odile Chanut & Samuel Grandval, 2014. "La mutualisation des ressources logistiques pour la gestion du dernier kilomètre en ville : état de l’art et pistes de recherche à partir d’une recherche bibliométrique," Post-Print hal-01764412, HAL.
    7. Simona Mancini, 2013. "Multi-echelon distribution systems in city logistics," European Transport \ Trasporti Europei, ISTIEE, Institute for the Study of Transport within the European Economic Integration, issue 54, pages 1-2.
    8. Mashalah, Heider Al & Hassini, Elkafi & Gunasekaran, Angappa & Bhatt (Mishra), Deepa, 2022. "The impact of digital transformation on supply chains through e-commerce: Literature review and a conceptual framework," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    9. Janjevic, Milena & Merchán, Daniel & Winkenbach, Matthias, 2021. "Designing multi-tier, multi-service-level, and multi-modal last-mile distribution networks for omni-channel operations," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 294(3), pages 1059-1077.
    10. Sijing Liu & Jiuping Xu & Xiaoyuan Shi & Guoqi Li & Dinglong Liu, 2018. "Sustainable Distribution Organization Based on the Supply–Demand Coordination in Large Chinese Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-25, August.
    11. Guarino Neto, Luigi & Geraldo Vidal Vieira, José, 2023. "An investigation of consumer intention to use pick-up point services for last-mile distribution in a developing country," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    12. Francesco Ciardiello & Andrea Genovese & Shucheng Luo & Antonino Sgalambro, 2023. "A game-theoretic multi-stakeholder model for cost allocation in urban consolidation centres," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 324(1), pages 663-686, May.
    13. Park, Hyeongjun & Park, Dongjoo & Jeong, In-Jae, 2016. "An effects analysis of logistics collaboration in last-mile networks for CEP delivery services," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 115-125.
    14. Ashu Kedia & Diana Kusumastuti & Alan Nicholson, 2019. "Establishing Collection and Delivery Points to Encourage the Use of Active Transport: A Case Study in New Zealand Using a Consumer-Centric Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-23, November.
    15. Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu, 2014. "Costs and benefits of railway urban logistics: a prospective social cost benefit analysis," Working Papers halshs-01056135, HAL.
    16. Merchán, Daniel & Winkenbach, Matthias & Snoeck, André, 2020. "Quantifying the impact of urban road networks on the efficiency of local trips," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 38-62.
    17. Aurelija Burinskienė, 2021. "Designing a Multi-Stage Transport System Serving e-Commerce Activity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, May.
    18. Kim, Nayeon & Montreuil, Benoit & Klibi, Walid & Kholgade, Nitish, 2021. "Hyperconnected urban fulfillment and delivery," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    19. Snoeck, André & Winkenbach, Matthias & Fransoo, Jan C., 2023. "On-demand last-mile distribution network design with omnichannel inventory," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    20. Priscila Pereira Suzart Carvalho & Ricardo Araújo Kalid & Jorge Laureano Moya Rodríguez & Sandro Breval Santiago, 2019. "Interactions among stakeholders in the processes of city logistics: a systematic review of the literature," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 120(2), pages 567-607, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:133:y:2020:i:c:p:164-196. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/547/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.