With the rise of e-commerce, the number of parcels being delivered worldwide has skyrocketed, reaching 161 billion in 2022. In Australia alone, 5.6 million households made a monthly online purchase in 2023, leading to a significant increase in parcel shipments. However, the use of high-emitting diesel vans and trucks for last-mile deliveries is contributing to traffic congestion, carbon emissions, and air pollution in cities.
While low-emission vehicles like electric delivery vans powered by renewable energy sources can help reduce the environmental impact, their global sales share in 2023 was only around 5%. Increasing the number of vehicle chargers powered by renewable energy will also take time. To address these challenges, optimizing delivery organization and exploring innovative solutions like crowdshipping could be the way forward.
Crowdshipping is a concept that leverages crowdsourcing to streamline delivery services. By tapping into the existing transport capacity of individuals traveling by various modes such as private vehicles, public transport, cycling, or walking, parcels can be efficiently delivered to their destinations. Platforms like Roadie or DoorDash facilitate the matching of parcels with “crowdshippers” heading towards the same destination, minimizing detours and maximizing efficiency.
A simulation of crowdshipping in Singapore revealed multiple benefits. By outsourcing just 11% of parcel deliveries to crowdshippers using public buses, an e-commerce carrier could reduce the number of delivery vehicles needed, leading to a 20% decrease in delivery vehicle distances and emissions. Even after compensating crowdshippers, carriers could enjoy cost savings. This innovative approach not only benefits the environment but also enhances the efficiency of parcel deliveries.
Despite the potential benefits of crowdshipping, several practical considerations need to be addressed. Ensuring that passengers are willing to deliver parcels is crucial, although a survey showed a positive response from potential crowdshippers motivated by the opportunity to earn income while traveling. Additionally, concerns about adding extra congestion or delays during peak-hour commutes can be mitigated by limiting crowdshipping to off-peak hours when public transport systems have excess capacity.
Crowdshipping using public transport presents a promising solution for cities with well-established public transport networks and high passenger numbers. By integrating passenger and freight transport, cities can make their logistics operations more efficient and sustainable. Through data-driven transport modeling and simulation, ideas like crowdshipping can be explored, tested, and eventually implemented to revolutionize last-mile parcel deliveries in urban areas.
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