THE ROLE OF URBAN LOGISTICS REAL ESTATE IN LAST MILE DELIVERIES: OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES AND SUCCESS FACTORS FOR INTEGRATION

Abstract

Rising urbanization, growing share of e-commerce sales, high-frequency and customer-specific deliveries as well as increasing urban access regulations lead to higher requirements for logistics service providers in supplying the urban last mile. Despite space scarcity, logistics service providers have to move closer to customers in order to provide high service levels in distribution. Hence, urban logistics facilities gain strategic importance. This paper aims to present the current status of urban distribution network structures and related logistics facility design, as well as current challenges and relevant success factors for developing sustainable and future-oriented last mile distribution systems. Based upon a literature-based description and assessment model, an explorative study of 38 German participants has been conducted. The main results indicate a particular lack of collaboration among all stakeholders in urban distribution working together on solutions for efficient urban logistics. This is for instance reflected in bureaucratic constraints, complicating tender and approval procedures on governmental level. Our results provide three distinct hypotheses for successfully designing and implementing urban logistics real estate into urban logistics systems. Practitioners may find new approaches for designing their own distribution structures, just as public institutions may find suggestions on how they can support urban distribution through process adaptations and thereby increase social well-being of inhabitants.