Efficient and sustainable last-mile logistics for food products from the practice perspective

This study aimed to evaluate the operational efficiency of a hybrid distribution model in last-mile logistics, which combines the use of combustion and electric vehicles. Analysis conducted on the retailer's actual data revealed that route optimization resulted in a 32% reduction in empty runs, an 18% decrease in average delivery time, and a 283.87 km reduction in daily travel distance. Additionally, the use of flexible time windows (–15 min, +30 min) improved route synchronization and increased fleet utilization efficiency. The study confirmed that the implementation of electric vehicles, despite their range and charging time limitations, allows for achieving high operational efficiency in last-mile logistics, especially in areas with high order density. The results yield new insights into the optimization of urban logistics systems and the impact of collaboration between retailers and technology providers on enhancing delivery efficiency, as illustrated by the example of grocery deliveries.

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