Sustainability in urban logistics : a literature review

Purpose: The importance of urban logistics is on the rise. On the one hand, the population in cities is growing due to urbanization processes. On the other hand, there is a significant increase in the flow of goods (e.g., a boost in online purchases). Such changes are leading cities to face social, economic, and environmental issues, which urge to be addressed. Based on these premises, this study aims to identify, classify and provide an overview of the environmentally sustainable logistics solutions for urban contexts. Methodology: This study performs a systematic literature review. First, it provides a quantitative description of the results, highlighting eventual trends; second, it displays a narrative description of the papers considered to map the current solution and of the related methodology. Findings: The study highlights the maturity and interest in adopting more sustainable delivery options in urban logistics. The selection of suitable transport means, the engagement of stakeholders, as well as the definition of norms and regulations, emerge as the most discussed and promising solutions. Originality: This study is a first attempt to classify the existing body of knowledge related to urban logistics, analysing contributions based on different axes of classification and highlighting cutting-edge solutions to propose possible research directions

Transition to omni-channel approach: the case of Italian retailers

Addressing consumers’ needs and expectations is one of the main retailers’ concerns. More and more of these expectations have been driven by consumers’ constant use of their mobile devices for almost any aspect of their lives. Therefore, we build on the argument that digitalization is affecting how retailers are operating and how they re-organize their channels so as to meet those expectations. Many argue that the common approach retailers embrace is adopting omni-channel strategy. In their endeavor to fully integrate the channels into an omnichannel model, retailers need to pass several milestones, such as successful customer engagement, effective logistics management, and integrated analytics systems. This paper is concerned with current state of channel integration and further development of channel integration towards omni-channel approach. We collected data by surveying and interviewing thirteen Italian retailers operating in three sectors: fashion, bookstores and media, and consumer electronics. Moreover, we also analyzed results of panel discussion at which nine retailers participated. The results of this explorative study show current state of retail industry in Italy and their activities towards channel integration. We highlight state of the art research and use a thematic bottom-up approach to draw propositions for future research areas

A comprehensive view of intelligent transport systems for urban smart mobility

Information accuracy and decision-making speed are of paramount importance in managing today’s mobility of goods and people inside the city. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) can provide road users with updated information and forecasts on both traffic and weather conditions. The result is a higher efficiency in the use of resources and a better management of physical flows. The purpose of this paper is to conduct an in-depth review on the role of ITS supporting urban Smart Mobility, in order to identify the main gaps in the literature and propose future research streams. In total, 71 papers have been thoroughly analysed: they are mainly focused on technology, with limited attention to value creation. Even though some benefits have been examined, a general lack of quantitative models emerged. Eventually, there is a lack of contributions considering both people and freight transport, even if they are strongly related, especially in an urban environment

Supply Chain Finance: Modelling a Dynamic Discounting Programme

In the last 10 years, new financing opportunities (known as “Supply Chain Finance” or SCF) arose, exploiting the strength of new ICTs and supply chain links to optimise the working capital and create value for the organisations involved. One of the solutions within the SCF landscape, called Dynamic Discounting (DD), utilises trade process visibility granted by an ICT platform to allow the dynamic settlement of invoices in a buyer-supplier relation: for every day of payment in advance with respect to a pre- defined baseline, the supplier grants to the buyer a discount on the invoice nominal value. DD is a supply management tool for which a cash-rich anchor buyer can let suppliers (especially SMEs) fast-access cash, while gaining a relatively high rate of return. This paper aims to estimate, through the development of an analytical model, the potential benefit sof using a DD model in a buyer-supplier relation. After a brief review of relevant literature, the paper presents amodel that compares, for the supplier, the cost of granting a discount to the buyer with the benefit of an early payment, whereas for the buyer, the benefit of receiving a discount with the financial cost of an early settlement. This paper fills the gap in literature related to the definition of the processes underlying the adoption of DD, and more broadly the need for models to assess the benefits of the most innovative SCF schemas

Supply chain finance: a literature review

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is twofold: to classify the research to-date on supply chain finance (SCF) according to the main themes and methods, and to propose directions for future research. Design/methodology/approach – The review is based on 119 papers mainly published from 2000 to 2014 in international peer-reviewed journals and in the proceedings of international conferences. Findings – The articles that provide a definition of SCF reflect two major perspectives: the “finance oriented” perspective – focused on short-term solutions provided by financial institutions, addressing accounts payable and receivable – and the “supply chain oriented” perspective – which might not involve a financial institution, and is focused on working capital optimisation in terms of accounts payable, receivable, inventories, and sometimes even on fixed asset financing. Research limitations/implications – While efforts were made to be all-inclusive, significant research efforts may have been inadvertently omitted. However, the authors believe that this review is an accurate representation of the body of research on SCF published during the specified time frame, and feel that confidence may be placed on the resulting assessments. Originality/value – The paper presents a comprehensive summary of previous research on this topic and identifies the most important issues that need to be addressed in future research. On the basis of the identified gaps in the literature, four key issues have been highlighted which should be addressed in future research

Cross-border B2C e-commerce to Greater China and the role of logistics: a literature review

Purpose: This paper reviews scientific publications in the field of logistics underlying cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) to China. A focus on the role played in this complex process by other countries of the Greater China is carried out. The purpose of this paper is to outline directions for future research to encourage CBEC development. Design/methodology/approach: The review is based on 32 papers published from 2002 to 2016 in international peer-reviewed journals or proceedings of international conferences, retrieved from bibliographic databases and science search engines. Findings: CBEC to China is gaining increasing interest, as shown by the rising amount of publications from 2013 onwards. Within these contributions, however, studies specifically investigating the relation between logistics and e-commerce, commonly acknowledged as critical, seem to lack. Many contributions are descriptive and do not provide specific insights on how to manage the complexities of CBEC logistics in this region. Stemming from the review, a set of possible development areas are identified, including distribution network design, i.e. deciding how to shape the CBEC distribution structure, and logistics outsourcing, i.e. determining whether to manage logistics activities in-house or through third parties. Originality/value: To the extent of the authorsâ knowledge, this paper is the first one to classify the existing body of knowledge on logistics supporting CBEC. Its main contribution is the critical identification of current research gaps and the proposal of key themes for future research. From a managerial perspective, it helps export and logistics managers identify the key challenges of managing CBEC logistics to Greater China