A5 – Data-driven decision-making for sustainable last-mile logistics

Urban freight is under intense demand across the world. Population growth, higher per capita income, and digitalization trends drive delivery vehicle usage (up 36% in the top 100 cities by 2030), GHG emissions (32% increase), and congestion levels (21% increase) (WEF, 2020). In a business-as-usual scenario, by 2050, freight demand is expected to triple, and thus GHG emissions (more than 200% increases) and other social and environmental externalities from the sector (ITF, 2021).

Despite the increasing impact of urban freight on the built environment, little evidence-based data are available for governments and city planners to inform policy and decision-making. The complex web of private and public actors, from shippers and carriers to retailers and residents involved along with transport operations, makes it hard to gather, compile, and cross-reference data to have a comprehensive overview of the supply chain. This is especially difficult in developing countries, in which the urban freight system is highly fragmented and informal. On top of that, most data available remained secretly kept by large private companies that fear a loss of competitiveness and restrictions imposition if the information is shared.

#Innovation
#Cost of inaction
#Knowledge sharing