We do four-handed research

Economic sustainability for e-grocery

Evaluation of picking and order consolidation strategies from the point of sale and application to the Bennet case

The goal of the project was to revise the picking and consolidation processes of the e-commerce orders in the Bennet stores, in order to improve their performance in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness. First of all, the processes were analyzed and their criticalities identified. Second, solutions to overcome these criticalities have been proposed, acting on both management policies and organization of spaces. Finally, their impacts (in terms of time and cost) on performances have been estimated. The project involved the development of an “ad-hoc” analytical model to determine the picking and consolidation times of online orders. The model, developed based on the skills of the B2c Logistics Center, required to conduct multiple interviews with Bennet’s management and several visits to the points of sale. In addition to the application with the data of the most frequent scenario, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to understand how the performances of the identified solutions vary by varying the most significant parameters (for example demand and order composition).


Green solutions and practices in the field of distribution and Last Mile Delivery 

The project, carried out on the behalf of one of the main Italian express courier, aimed to map the main “green” practices adopted by companies operating in the B2C & Last-Mile eCommerce sector (couriers, startups, eCommerce players, …) . First of all, the green initiatives adopted by these actors were surveyed. Second, the solutions identified were described and classified on the basis of a series of relevant axes, such as the field of the “green” project (network nodes, transport, CO2 compensation, etc. ) and the geographic focus (e.g. national, continental or world level). The project ended up with the mapping of about a hundred initiatives, and made it possible to draw important considerations on the type, as well as on the diffusion, of the green initiatives adopted in the B2C & Last-Mile eCommerce sector.


… or sitting around a table

Working Group on delivery from points of sales in urban areas

The Working Table, carried out in collaboration with the B2c e-commerce and Contract Logistics “Gino Marchet” observatories and with several logistics operators, analysed the implementation of a last mile delivery solution based on the points of sale located in an urban area. In particular, the delivery costs of this solution were estimated and compared to those of traditional home delivery, both in the case of a single retailer, and in the case of a collaboration between several retailers, by considering variations in the relevant parameters (for example the number of orders per day).
The interaction with the participants of the Working Group has been developed in two stages: a kick-off meeting for the punctual definition of objectives and methodologies, and a final event of presentation and discussion of the results. 


Working Group on Parcel Lockers

The Working Group, carried out in collaboration with the B2c e-commerce and Contract Logistics “Gino Marchet” observatories and with several logistics operators, analysed the use of Parcel Lockers in the last mile delivery. In particular, delivery costs in the parcel locker solution were estimated and they were compared with those of traditional home delivery, both in the urban and in the extra-urban areas.​
The interaction with the participants of the Working Group has been developed in two stages: a kick-off meeting for the punctual definition of objectives and methodologies and a final event of presentation and discussion of the results. 


Estimation of packaging from B2c eCommerce

The project, carried out in collaboration with the B2c e-commerce Observatory on the behalf of the National Packaging Consortium (Consorzio Nazionale Imballaggi, CONAI), estimated the flows of packaging generated by the B2c e-commerce products. In particular, the B2c e-commerce products flows (in terms of domestic market, import and export) were first identified, mapped and described. Second, the corresponding packaging flows were quantified.

The interaction with CONAI has been developed in three stages: a kick-off meeting for the punctual definition of objectives and methodologies, an intermediate presentation of the first results, and a final meeting of presentation and discussion of the overall results. 


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