LAST-MILE ANALYSIS IN DIFFERENT E-COMMERCE DELIVERY METHODS

The world’s habits are shifting from traditional shopping with physical retails to a virtually store, consequently, the logistics are also changing drastically. Additionally, shopping online became practical from the client’s perspective, which reduces the need for a physical store and overall costs for the companies. As a consequence of online shopping growing demand, the logistics requires environmental attention since express deliveries are expected to provide a better experience for the consumer. In this context, the present dissertation has the objective of assessing the challenges of the last-mile delivery in two stages: first, through a survey to explore the possibility of different approaches for the last-mile delivery; and a discrete event simulation model to compute the mileage of the vehicles used to carry parcels to the consumers of e-commerce. The people interviewed was highly receptive to try new ways of e-commerce delivery, encouraging the integration of drones, crowdshipping and lockers while coexisting with the traditional delivery process. The simulation based on the survey, literature and field data resulted on a lower mileage distance traveled on drone’s and parcel locker’s delivery while the crowdshipping increased, but the route would be already on the driver’s plans, making it an efficient travel. Parcel Locker has a great potential in large cities that have structured mass transportation, while drones may not be as effective as it seems due its flight limitations by local legislation. By combining crowdsourcing with parcel lockers alongside traditional delivery, the mileage can be reduced and be more environmentally efficient way, indicating a positive outcome that should inspire the practical appliance of this delivery method. Every scenario considered in this study lowers or proposes a more efficient usage of the fleet’s mileage, achieving less energy consumption (both electric and fuel) and, consequently, less greenhouse effect gas emissions.
KEYWORDS: CO2 discharge, DES, electronic commerce, last mile, shipment