Customers in action: Involving crowdshippers in e-grocery deliveries
研究了生鲜电商配送中引入众包配送员的效果，通过对比有无绕路方案，发现众包能减少配送里程、提高效率和可达性，对城市可持续物流有参考价值。
Improving last-mile deliveries in cities is fundamental to reconciling economic growth with sustainability, especially considering e-groceries’ role. This paper explores grocery system configurations, accounting for service efficiency and crowdshippers’ accessibility, by jointly considering customers’ channel choices, customers’ willingness to act as crowdshippers, alternative delivery options, and comparing a no-detour case and a with-detour alternative. The paper proposes an integrated and coordinated modelling approach to explore alternative e-grocery scenarios, including crowdshipping as a possible alternative delivery option. The key Performance Indicators the paper uses are kilometres driven, shopping time, channel choices, and the number of crowdshippers/receivers. Results indicate that crowdshipping can significantly reduce delivery vehicle Kms driven while improving delivery efficiency and accessibility, and this is greatest when customers take detours. The practical implementation of the solution suggests encouraging participation, ensuring reliability, promoting sustainable practices, and supporting policy integration.