SUSTAINABLE LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS IN SMALL SHIPMENT LOGISTICS PROCESSES

Abstract

The sustainable logistics solutions of e-commerce and logistics companies require systematic engagement and collaboration. To approach a more sustainable logistics model, it is important to measure its current state by knowing the main parameters, from resource consumption to the calculation of the carbon footprint of final products. The global logistics industry faced significant challenges brought by retail and e-commerce, which involve a high volume of flows and packaging. However, logistics providers invested heavily in new technologies such as drone delivery and robotics to meet the increasing logistics demand, which resulted in a shortage of human resources. Governments of developed countries realized the importance of implementing smart logistics solutions infrastructure and focusing on scientific research, technology development, and efficiency. They formed alliances with information companies such as IBM, AT&T, and Cisco to create an information platform and implement logistics information. The logistics industry applied emerging intelligent information technologies such as radio frequency identification devices (RFID) tags, blockchain, big data analysis, artificial intelligence (AI), and drones to achieve automation, visualization, traceability, and intelligent decision-making in the logistics process. However, for smart logistics to work, a common management system is needed to address this issue between different systems. To distribute and deliver small shipments, researchers analyze different delivery methods, resource usage, and costs to identify the optimal delivery method. The most common delivery methods are evaluated, and the article concludes that programming for all possible future cases is impossible, and a joint management system is required.