Avaliação da viabilidade dos pick-up points sob o enfoque da logística urbana

Abstract

The continuous expansion of e-commerce drives the demand for home deliveries and therefore the number of urban freight vehicles, since the distribution is usually done door-todoor, for convenience and often because of the absence of physical stores. In order to reduce logistical costs, the number of trips generated and the levels of congestion presented in most major cities, it is necessary to analyze alternative and more efficient solutions for the distribution of these products. The implementation of a pick-up system is an important option to reduce the impacts of urban cargo handling. Instead of being delivered at the residence of each client, it is done through alternative channels, which may be physical partner shops or autonomous collection facilities. Using the distribution network through pick-up sites allows inventory costs to be kept low, with storage at the manufacturer or distributor to exploit the aggregation. In addition, the cost of transportation is lower than for any other solution using carriers, since significant consolidation is possible when delivering products at a single withdrawal point, saving on the higher-cost stretch, corresponding to the last- mile cost). Looking at the possible benefits of the solution, a socioeconomic questionnaire (sex, age, income and schooling) and a declared preference research were applied, with 18 situations of choice (3 blocks of 6 questions), formed by combinations of the different levels of 4 attributes (cost of freight, delivery time, need to wait for delivery and accessibility to the pick-up site). After analyzing each of the 6 situations, the interviewee opted for a delivery alternative (conventional or at pick-up site). To the obtained results, a discrete choice model was applied, estimating the probability and under what conditions the respondent would be prone to use the solution. The survey was conducted online in Brazil during the months of November and December 2017 and January 2018. Altogether, 458 people answered the survey, totaling over 2700 observations, indicating, for example, that 92.03% of the respondents would use the solution in a scenario with cost and time reduction, and when the pick-up site was located along the daily route. In addition, in an exploratory comparative analysis between conventional delivery and delivery at pick-up sites, it was shown that the reduction of the mileage traveled daily during deliveries can result in an average distribution cost of 12.8% lower in the option for pick-up sites. In summary, the research pointed to a high probability of adherence to the solution by pickup sites, as long as it presents extra benefits to consumers compared to conventional delivery. These benefits could be in terms of cost or shorter delivery time. In addition, an audience was found interested in alternative delivery solutions, either due to difficulties in receiving through conventional delivery or due to the costs and deadlines practiced that make purchases unfeasible.