Using EPP Boxes in a Dark Store: A New Approach to Simplify Food Retail E-Commerce Deliveries

Pintado Eduardo (), Coelho de Oliveira Lia () and Garcia Jorge Esparteiro ()
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Pintado Eduardo: Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
Coelho de Oliveira Lia: INESC TEC, Porto, Portugal, and Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Garcia Jorge Esparteiro: ADiT-LAB, Polytechnic Institute Viana do Castelo and INESC TEC, Porto, Portugal

Business Systems Research, 2022, vol. 13, issue 3, 130-143

Abstract: Background: E-commerce has emerged as a good response to the pandemic of COVID-19. However, the costs of providing a service, which includes a driver and a vehicle, in a regular vehicle that can transport goods that need positive cold (0° to 5°C) are very high. Objectives: This paper aims to investigate how a big Portuguese retailer company can reduce its dependence on refrigerated vehicles, simplifying operations and reducing the costs of transporting positive and negative cold food. Methods/Approach: This research was carried out in a food retailer Portuguese company, more precisely in a Dark Store dedicated to the online channel. The study was developed based on the AS-IS/TO-BE process analysis methodology, starting with the analysis of the current situation, giving rise to the so-called AS-IS model. Results: It was possible to reduce costs associated with transporting positive cold goods. As a result, there are 30% fewer costs associated with order transportation. With an additional 10% in space optimization with the gain of space within the galley of each vehicle. Conclusions: The costs of transporting positive and negative cold foods were decreased, and substituting vehicles with room temperature transport reduced the need for refrigerated vehicles.

Keywords: E-commerce; Transportation; Sustainability; Dark Store; Food Retail; Case study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L16 L81 L91 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bit:bsrysr:v:13:y:2022:i:3:p:130-143:n:11

DOI: 10.2478/bsrj-2022-0029

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