Material Economy and Logistics 01/2025

Modern cities face a number of challenges, among which growing urbanization over the years, environmental pollution, climate change or the problem of efficient resource management play a key role. In this context, the smart city concept, based on modern technologies and innovative solutions, is becoming a leading element of development strategies. Polish voivodeship cities, as regional centres, are increasingly implementing smart city solutions to improve the quality of life of residents, increase the efficiency of government operations and promote sustainable development. The purpose of this article is to determine the extent to which the smart city idea is incorporated into the development strategies of Polish voivodeship cities, and to identify the areas in which these solutions are of greatest importance. The analysis covers six dimensions of the smart city: economy, mobility, environment, people, quality of life and governance. The study consisted of two stages: a literature analysis and a review of cities' strategic documents using thematic modelling tools.

The content of the considerations that are the subject matter of the publication is focused on: identifying the specificity of supply chain management in the light of the characteristic features of these chains; presenting an approach to managing employee teams in a way implied by the specificity of supply chains and pointing to self-managing teams as a vital instrument for improving supply chain management in conditions of increasing variability and unpredictability of the environment. The conclusions resulting from the publication can be used not only for further empirical research on self-managing employee teams as a way of supporting supply chain management, but also as recommendations for micro- and metalogistics managers.

The transport potential of Ukraine is discussed in terms of supply and demand, infrastructure and geopolitics considering domestic, import, export, and especially transit one. The demand is analysed as resulting from domestic production and trade links with countries of the European Union (EU), former Soviet bloc countries as well as Asian and Middle Eastern ones, including Transcaucasia. The Ukrainian transport infrastructure, including its condition, is analysed against the background of international transport corridors. The role of the geographical location of Ukraine and the resulting geopolitical situation (including the ongoing war with Russia) are also taken into account. Based on the above, the concept of transit cargo transport East–EU via the territory of Ukraine is proposed. The concept stays in line with development plans of the EU, the Middle East and Ukraine, significantly increasing potential of the latter to handle the transport of cargo between the East and the EU.

In connection with the dynamic development of the e-commerce economy, especially in times of a pandemic, when e-commerce has become a common form of buying and selling goods, the aim of addressing the issues contained in the title of the article is to indicate the impact of e-commerce on the shape, size and quality of packaging used in this distribution channel. The specificity and dynamic development of e-commerce forces organizations to look for new, more effective and specialized solutions and packaging technologies, as well as protection for the products they distribute. During online transactions, packaging becomes the only physical element of contact between the seller and the customer, it builds the customer's shopping experience and influences their opinion about the company. The dominant role of courier shipments in e-commerce logistics forces the need for better and more effective packaging of goods in the distribution process. The logistics functions performed by packaging, on the other hand, guarantee an optimal and harmonious flow of materials through every link in the supply chain. The subject of the research presented in the article is the impact of the specificity of e-commerce on the system and structure of packaging. The aim of the research is to analyse and evaluate changes in the parameters of product unit packaging using the Amazon.com sales platform as an example. The study describes issues related to the essence of e-commerce as a modern distribution channel. In addition, an analysis of packaging used in e-commerce on the Amazon.com sales platform and the directions of its development in the electronic distribution channel, taking into account the assumptions and perspectives of the examined entity.

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.

The purpose of this study is to present current research and deliver a new description of a logistic barrier, helping to assess challenges and sustain a flow in the supply chain. The resilience of the global supply chains against logistics barriers is a key factor for strategic management in conditions of the global economy. Moreover, preserving the resilience of the organizations participating in the supply chain is a prerequisite of Industry 5.0. During a global pandemic, operations in the global supply chain have met an unusual risk. However, since that time, a multitude of other risk factors have arisen. Analysis of many research reports reveals a negative effect of present factors like wars, political crises and continuity of operations of a global supply chain. The outcome of this study concludes that spatial distribution of manufacturing and distributive operations revealed a particular vulnerability of supply chains. Many areas of global supply chains suffer repetitive disturbances in everyday operations. Such cases may cause the creation of logistic barriers, posing a further challenge for logistic operators.