E-commerce “reshaping our cities”
Consultancy firm Sweco has released a new report which looks at how e-commerce is not only changing our shopping habits, but also reshaping logistics, city planning and properties.
In a statement issued yesterday (14 June), Sweco said: “With e-commerce turnover increasing by 10-15% per y, there is an ongoing structural shift in retail supply chains. From being a relatively predictable behaviour in respect to place and time, shopping has become far more complex and offers new challenges to urban planners, retailers and logistics companies. Challenges include supplying individual customers rather than replenishing stocks in stores, managing returns, and offering a selection of delivery options.”
Sweco added: “The total effect of increased e-commerce remains unclear, but inefficiencies in applied solutions will lead to unnecessary increase in traffic load and pollution. Retail space will probably be reinvented and traditional shops might be replaced by showrooms. Today’s structure and function of warehouses, terminals and collection points, as well as the logistics function in apartment buildings and individual homes may alter considerably due to adaptations to e-commerce.”
Robert Sommar, who co-authored the report with Peter Mellander, commented: “The inefficiency of today’s solutions highlights the need for innovative thinking to identify solutions for efficient distribution principles and supply chain strategies and design. Such solutions need to be well integrated into city structures.”
The report, entitled Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Analysing the Impact of E-commerce on Urban Areas, is part of a series of insight reports called “Urban Insight” written by Sweco experts on various aspects of urban development. Click here to download the report.
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