Leveransalternativ för e-handel med dagligvaror

Abstract

In order to attain sustainability for the industry, the inhabitants and the environment, it is important to study city goods transportation systems. Reasons for focusing on e-grocery (groceries shopped over the Internet) are that the last link of the grocery supply chain, i.e. the goods flow from retailer to household is an uninvestigated field, and also that there is a presumed potential for co-ordination benefits in the distribution system for groceries. The main purpose of this report is to identify realistic delivery alternatives for e-grocery, given the present conditions on the Swedish market. The term realistic refers to the delivery alternatives’ potential for becoming profitable as well as to their ability to meet the customers’ demands and preferences regarding the service characteristics of delivery alternatives for e-grocery. This report presents the results from four different studies that have been carried out in order to fulfil the main purpose. In the first study, information on implemented and planned distribution solutions in present e-grocery businesses was acquired through a series of interviews with representatives from both logistics companies and grocery chains. In the second study, by means of a routing and scheduling tool, a few typical cases of delivery alternatives were evaluated regarding potential for profitability. In the third study, an overview of delivery alternatives illustrated in scientific journals and research reports was done. Finally, in the forth study, experienced web customers’ valuation of different delivery alternatives was examined by means of focus groups and a web survey. On the basis of the results from the four studies, the delivery alternatives that are considered realistic on the Swedish market for e-grocery are presented.