“Last Mile for e-commerce” is a report developed by the Polish Institute of Road Transport in cooperation with Otimo Ltd. and Last Mile Experts, released on September 22, 2022. The publication answers many questions regarding the problems and challenges of the final process of the delivery for e-commerce. It addresses OOH delivery, the courier industry, the growing problems of placing parcel lockers in public spaces, process optimization, the ecological dimension of transportation and its impact on global warming.

To meet the challenges of the rapidly growing volume of e-commerce orders, a flexible last-mile shipment model is essential. One of the most effective solutions in this area is delivery outside the recipient’s residence, known as OOH (out of home). Mirek Gral of Last Mile Experts noted that “The development of the PUDO network or parcel lockers is driven by consumers who choose this logistics model because of the possibility of sending or collecting a shipment at a convenient time and place. The choice of service is tailored to individual needs. As recently as 10-20 years ago, it was e-commerce that decided for the customer which carrier would send the order, and the customer only had to wait for the courier. Today it is different. Platforms outdo one another by providing a wide range of logistics services. The data show that in 2021 the EU and UK PUDO networks increased by 32% y/y. Meanwhile, the number of parcel lockers increased by 82% compared to 2020”.

The report is a compendium of last mile knowledge for e-commerce. It includes:

➡️ Characteristics of OOH delivery (out of home),
➡️ A description of the growing problems of placing parcel lockers in public spaces,
➡️ An optimization analysis - a potential we are yet to discover, 
➡️ A discussion on the ecological dimension of transportation and its impact on global warming.

An addition to the report is a webinar hosted by Anna Majowicz. During the webinar, Mirek Gral (Last Mile Experts), Marta Cudziło (Łukasiewicz-PIT) and Krzysztof Chaładyn (Vice-Chairman of the Board of Otimo) discuss the challenges and the future of the last mile for e-commerce.

“We are pleased to be included in such a noble group,” says Krzysztof Chaładyn. “The experts who co-create the report guarantee that this is a publication of the highest quality, filled with great, substantive content. There is nothing else for me to do besides gladly invite you to read it”.