Balancing the triple bottom line in last mile distribution: a digital mobile approach

Abstract

The digital age has extensively changed the way consumers make their purchases from in-store to online purchases. With this shift, companies are struggling to maintain and balance the trade-offs between profits, people and planet (3Ps). Companies are challenged to offer on-time guaranteed delivery frequently along with seasonal demand and volatility that is within good margins while considering the environment and society. To address this challenge, academics and industries have studied various distribution solutions such as crowdsourcing. However, little research is observed on a digitally enabled solution that balances the trade-offs between the 3Ps, especially the last-mile industry which has seen increased sale activities and environmental impact. Proceeding from quantitative computational research, this study aims to develop a digitally enabled mobile application that links a package to a traveller already moving in the same direction in order to positively influence the 3Ps and ultimately achieving a triple bottom line solution.