INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR A “LAST-MILE” DELIVERY – A EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE

Abstract

The “last-mile” delivery represents the last part of a supply chain that is considered to be the most inefficient due to its specificities such as a spatial distribution of relatively small receiving points, demands for more frequent but smaller shipments, delivery time windows, etc. As far as its ecological dimension is concerned, the “last-mile” delivery done by common type of delivery vehicles for an inner urban supply is thought to be significantly ineffective especially in cities that are faced not only with modern distribution practices but with increasing urbanisation and e-commerce development as well. This leads to the conclusion for necessity to introduce innovative types of delivery vehicles that improve business results while reducing a negative ecological and social impact of transport on functions in inner cities. With this reference, the paper presents the innovative transport technologies in the “last-mile” delivery in developed European countries that provide an ecological and social sustainability as well as an increased competitiveness of the suppliers.

Key words: “last-mile” delivery, City logistics, transport vehicles, sustainability of urban freight