Technological innovations such as parcel lockers can only contribute to reducing the negative impact of last mile logistics on people, planet and profit outcomes if consumers adopt them. Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) as a theoretical lens, the purpose of this study was to design effective interventions in the pre-delivery stage that stimulated consumers to choose to use parcel lockers, focusing on incentives and actions that online retailers and logistic service providers can easily implement. A vignette-based experiment was used to examine the impact of providing consumers with information about sustainability, information about parcel lockers and information about distance to nearest parcel locker on their choice to use a parcel locker instead of receiving their package at home. The originality of the study is twofold. The role of geographical context which is oftentimes overlooked was examined explicitly in this study by conducting the study with participants from the Netherlands and Lithuania. The present study used causal mediation analysis to study the combined effects of interventions and previous experience with parcel lockers through the UTAUT constructs. The findings showed that providing information about sustainability and information about the distance to the nearest parcel locker were effective interventions, however the effect of distance was country specific. Causal mediation analysis showed that familiarity with parcel lockers was positively associated with the choice to use parcel lockers by increasing perceived ease of use, expected performance, and reducing perceived risk.
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Decarbonisation of urban logistics is a pressing issue. About one third of the freight-related CO 2 emissions in the Netherlands relates to urban logistics, consisting of both vans and trucks. Although electrification is a feasible solution, delivery models that not only focus on reducing the carbon footprint, but also the spatial footprint are important. A one-to-one replacement of diesel vehicles with electric vehicles does not reduce urban logistics' spatial footprint in densifying cities nor the delivery vans' perceived nuisance. This paper examines the impact of alternative delivery models in the parcel- and home delivery segment in four future scenarios on CO 2 emissions, vehicle kilometres and number and type of vehicles used (2030). Analyses are based on data from three companies in a large metropolitan region in the Netherlands. The results show the impact of vehicles fleets electrification, transhipment in consolidation points and a network of pickup points. This study illustrates that developing alternative last mile networks can result in a decrease in vehicle (van) movements, and with that a serious decrease in emissions. The implications of the results on the carbon footprint, urban space usage and costs for companies are discussed.
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Lastmile.info contributes to livable urban environments and efficient deliveries. LastMile.info is set to become the essential platform for finding and monitoring all the necessary information so that you can optimally plan and execute the final stage of the route during store deliveries:> Clear overview of regulations (such as restrictions and time windows)> Shorter waiting times: reduced financial and environmental burden> Greater driver satisfaction thanks to insight into delivery locations
In the autumn of 2020, an autonomous and electric delivery robot was deployed on the BUas campus for the distribution of goods. In addition to the actual field test of the robot, we conducted research into various aspects of autonomous delivery robots. In this contribution we discuss the test with the autonomous delivery robot itself, the adjustments we had to make because the campus was very quiet due to COVID-19 and therefore there was less to transport for the robot, and the perception of people. with regard to the delivery robot, on the possible future areas of application and on the learning experiences we have gained in the tests.
