Behind every delivery is a complex urban logistics system working to move large volumes of goods around our city every day. As more of us shop online and expect timely deliveries, our towns must be designed to better support the increasing volume.
Improved logistics operations can enable more deliveries to be fulfilled with less resources.
Government agencies and companies are working together to adapt to new trends and optimise deliveries. Through collaboration and use of technology, companies can reap economies of scale on their logistics operations and reduce the number of delivery vehicles on our streets.
Companies can share resources such as vehicles and manpower to reduce the number of delivery trips, as well as travel and waiting time.
Consolidating Deliveries
Three retail logistics companies – DAP Asia Pacific, Sim Solutions and HUB Distributors – combined deliveries of goods and achieved distance and time savings of approximately 3,700 km and 120 hours over six months. It freed up drivers to be redeployed for other routes too.
A booking system and real-time information on the status of loading bays will help reduce congestion at receiving nodes.
Logistics networks can be pushed below ground to reduce deliveries on roads. Automatic guided vehicles could be used in these underground logistic networks to reap manpower savings.
The proportion of online sales in retail has more than doubled since December 2018 to 14.3% in December 2021, according to the Singapore Department of Statistics. We are supporting the corresponding growth in e-commerce by improving last mile delivery, such as planning infrastructure as well as adopting new business models and technologies.
Existing spaces and facilities in towns can be tapped to support delivery needs.
Courier Hubs
Underutilised spaces in multistorey carparks have been piloted as courier hubs where parcels are handed over to parcel walkers for door-to-door deliveries.
Kerbside Loading
Kerbside parking lots can be converted into pay-per-use loading bays in areas that receive high volume of deliveries. A pilot by government agencies was well-received and more such facilities could be added.
© GovTech
New types of spaces and infrastructure can speed up and ease deliveries.
Collection Points
Shops near homes can serve as collection points for e-commerce orders.
Cloud Kitchens
To reduce trips, businesses can share kitchens to prepare food for delivery. If these are sited near homes, customers can pick up from them too.
© Smart City Kitchens
Dark Stores
Such shops that are not open for retail can be sited nearer to homes and outside of traditional shopping areas, enabling online orders such as grocery deliveries to arrive more quickly.
Self-Collect Deliveries
Over 1,000 parcel lockers have been installed in public housing estates, community clubs and transport nodes as part of Pick's nationwide locker network. They eliminate the risk of failed deliveries while still providing secure and convenient parcel pickup.
© Pick Network
Automating Delivery
A system is being developed in Punggol to test out the use of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) in different distribution models, such as making deliveries within and between buildings.
© OTSAW Digital PL
OTSAW Digital PL and CM Logistics PL collaborated with government agencies led by IMDA to use AMRs to carry out parcel and grocery deliveries from Oasis Terraces neighbourhood mall to 24 neighbouring residential blocks. The trial could pave the way for wider use of robot couriers to fulfil on-demand delivery services.