E-commerce is still a strong growing segment with fierce competition among parcel delivery service providers. To stay ahead of the competitors’ innovation is necessary. Currently, parcels are being delivered with large delivery vans which will usually deliver single parcels to doorsteps of their customers. This so-called ‘last-mile delivery’ is the most expensive logistics activity. In the literature, it is proposed that parcel lockers have a high potential to save costs.
In a research paper a literature review on parcel lockers, three methods for analysis are described and the results of a case study in Amsterdam are provided. Based on the research findings the usage of parcel lockers is beneficial. However, the size and locations need to be determined precisely by the use of simulation modeling. These parcel lockers are delivered by three delivery drivers and the parcels are delivered by three delivery drivers.
Instead of having a total of 1475 stops for the whole delivery of 1770 parcels, this alternative delivery model has 430 stops for the normal delivery route and only 47 stops for the parcel locker route. The related daily delivery costs are €2704 per day, instead of €3210 per day. On a yearly basis, this could save up to €121,356 for the area of the Amsterdam De Pijp.