Научен доклад ID 2380 : 2023/3

The growth of online retail is creating critical logistical challenges in the last part of the distribution chain. Traditional home delivery by truck reaches its limits in big cities and ceases to be efficient. Alternative and innovative logistics solutions are needed. This article discusses how smart cities can overcome the challenges caused by last-mile delivery, like CO2 emissions, noise pollution, and congestion increases. After a brief introduction to smart cities and last-mile delivery essentials, the authors discussed last-mile delivery challenges and proposals for several problem solutions. For the purpose of the analysis, the authors created a table where for each of the mentioned challenges are proposed solutions to overcome them. In Chapter 3, the authors discussed some innovative models in delivery. Here are discussed cargo bikes, parcel lockers, delivery drones, and the organization of last-mile delivery. The fourth chapter discusses future trends in last-mile delivery. The authors believe that in the near future, transporters will continue to try to reduce delivery costs by optimizing existing ways of delivering goods and by almost imperceptibly transferring part of the transport activities and costs to clients. Here, above all, they mean the popularization of parcel lockers. Based on the analysis presented in this article and their experience, the authors in Chapter 5 gave their conclusions about last-mile delivery in smart cities.