Microhubs Impact on Last-Mile Delivery: Improving Efficiency for E-Commerce Companies
Publicerad
Författare
Typ
Examensarbete på kandidatnivå
Bachelor Thesis
Bachelor Thesis
Program
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
The rapid growth of e-commerce has increased the demand for efficient and sustainable last mile delivery solutions, particularly in urban environments. One potential solution is the use
of microhubs—small, strategically located logistics nodes where goods are transferred from
larger vehicles to smaller, emission-free alternatives such as cargo bikes or electric vans. This
study was carried out as a bachelor thesis within the field of logistics and urban freight
transport, with the aim of exploring the potential of microhubs in a Swedish context.
The study investigates three key questions: (1) RQ1: What are the key advantages, challenges,
opportunities, and threats of implementing microhubs for last-mile delivery? (2) How have
microhubs been implemented in other countries, and what lessons can Swedish companies
learn from these cases? (3) What factors should Swedish e-commerce companies consider
when deciding whether to adopt microhubs for last-mile logistics? The research was based on
a literature review, international case study analysis, and semi-structured interviews with two
industry stakeholders. The result was presented in a three-stage SWOT-analysis, where the
first SWOT was based on existing literature, the second was refined by case study analysis.
After results from the interviews a final SWOT was made, including all three research
methods.
The results show that microhubs can reduce emissions, improve delivery efficiency, and
relieve urban congestion. However, challenges such as limited urban space, and a lack of
collaboration between logistics actors may hinder adoption. Municipal involvement and
flexible hub design are identified as key enablers. The study is limited to a Swedish urban
context and focuses primarily on perspectives from the private sector. The findings contribute
to a better understanding of how microhubs can support more sustainable and effective urban
logistics in Sweden.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
e-commerce, last-mile delivery, e-commerce