The Impact of E-commerce Delivery Alternatives on Urban Freight Movements and Cost: A Carrier Perspective

The potential impact of e-commerce on freight movements in cities is an important consideration for freight operators and policy makers, however little research focuses on the impact of e-commerce freight movements in urban areas, especially in the South African context. With the growth of e-commerce and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to investigate methods to improve last-mile delivery planning for e-commerce deliveries in urban areas. The paper therefore focuses on evaluating the potential impacts of different e-commerce delivery methods (home delivery, collection points, and click-and-collect) on ecommerce freight movements and carrier cost. Results provide a good starting point to understand the potential impacts of delivery decisions and omni-channel design on delivery cost. Results from this analysis can be used by planners, decision-makers, and delivery service providers to glean some useful insights for improved planning of ecommerce operations and offerings.