Last mile distribution, the final step in the process of delivering online purchases to their buyers, has become the most critical point in the e-commerce logistics chain. Urban areas, where most deliveries are made, tend to have mobility problems (dense traffic, traffic jams or difficult access). In addition, of the entire e-commerce logistics chain, this is the most expensive and inefficient process and also the one that has the greatest environmental impact.
Although there is not much data available about last mile distribution, some approximations can be made. For example, in an average day in Barcelona there are 435,000 journeys of goods vehicles, of which 96% of them are diesel. Also, some studies indicate that 40% of final delivery services fail at the first attempt because the distribution schedule does not correspond to the customer’s availability schedule.
Geever has begun to develop in Barcelona a totally innovative proximity distribution system based on the creation of micro-distribution centres, located in car parks and storage rooms, each covering an area in a radius of 750 metres. The distribution vehicles distribute only at night to these distribution centres. During the day, neighbourhood messengers deliver using electric scooters and with flexible schedules adapted to the realities of the client. In this way they achieve a first delivery attempt success rate of more than 95% percent and generate zero emissions. The project is still in its initial phase but aims for implementation throughout Spain.
