R!sult (Responsive Sustainable Urban Logistics)

The goal of this project is to work out and validate a versatile generic logistic concept of ideal city deliveries. Important aspects are smart usage and combination of logistic modes and to provide and utilize storage and cross-dock capacity (micro warehouses) in the city.

VIL wants to work out a model for sustainable as well as economic city logistics, that is beneficial to all stakeholders (producers, cities, logistic service providers, traders and citizens). To accomplish this it is important to keep in mind the use of the right transportation modes and their most favourable combinations, the capacity per mode, ideal routes, storage, cross-dock capacity and the impact on costs and environment.

Opportunities

The accumulated knowledge, the model and teh roadmap provide opportunities for all inductrial companies involved (shippers, logistic service providers) and the possibility to optimize the supply chains and to build innovative services concerning city logistics.

This project is to become a cradle for those involved to organize the distribution of goods in a city environment in an efficient, sustainable and socially responsable way. The model will support the SULP’s (Sustainable Urban Logistics Plans) in which cities, logistic service providers and producers set the scene of urban logistics. VIL aims to apply the model in multiple cities or municipalities.

Results

• Last mile B2B and B2C parcel deliveries in Flemish cities can be organized a lot more efficiently by consolidating flows of goods in and out of the city using Urban Distribution Centers (UDCs) on the edge of the city or a network of microhubs in the city center.
• The R!sult project had developed a logistic process model that is widely applicable in different cities.
• The use of one UDC is enough to supply a city, except in Antwerp.
• The location of a UDC is important: near important and easily accessible roads where incoming traffic finds its way into the city, to minimize the extra kilometres to the UDC.
• A network of microhubs has a higher cost, but it does allow a better use of cargo bikes.
• The UDC model is very suitable for logistics service providers with a lower delivery density in the city. For them it is possible to reduce their costs up to 30 % compared to the current delivery model. Better consolidation of the last mile offers a kilometre saving of 30 to 50 %.
• Cities have an important part to play in the transition to more sustainable and green parcel deliveries, both by outlining policy and by temporarily supporting new initiatives.
• Collaboration and knowledge sharing are the magic recipe for the future development of efficient and sustainable parcel deliveries.