What Young E-Consumers Want? Forecasting Parcel Lockers Choice in Rome

Gabriele Iannaccone, Edoardo Marcucci and Valerio Gatta
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Gabriele Iannaccone: Department of Political Science, Roma Tre University, Via Gabriello Chiabrera 199, 00145 Rome, Italy
Edoardo Marcucci: Department of Political Science, Roma Tre University, Via Gabriello Chiabrera 199, 00145 Rome, Italy
Valerio Gatta: Department of Political Science, Roma Tre University, Via Gabriello Chiabrera 199, 00145 Rome, Italy

Logistics, 2021, vol. 5, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: Surges in e-commerce sales represent a huge challenge for urban freight transport. Parcel lockers constitute a valid solution for addressing the challenges home deliveries imply. In fact, eliminating courier–consumer contact (also relevant for health-related issues, as made evident by the COVID-19 pandemic) and delivering in fewer predefined places might help coping mechanisms for missed deliveries substantially. Furthermore, this option enables consolidated shipping and reduced delivery trip costs. This paper analyses and compares consumer preferences for alternative collection strategies. It investigates home delivery vs. parcel locker use and forecasts their future market shares. This is performed based on both customer socio-economic variables and the attributes characterising these alternative logistic fulfilment strategies. The case study considered tests upon a stated preference survey deployed in the city of Rome. The investigation specifically targeted young people (i.e., population under 30 years) since they represent early adopters. Discrete choice models allow both quantifying the monetary value of parcel lockers attributes (i.e., willingness to pay measures) and estimating the potential demand for this innovative delivery scheme. Results show that distance and accessibility are the main choice determinants. Furthermore, there is an overall high propensity to adopt parcel lockers. This research can support policymakers when implementing such solutions.

Keywords: parcel locker; last mile delivery; home delivery; city logistics; urban freight transport; stated preference; discrete choice modelling; consumer behavior; e-commerce; channel choice; collection points (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L8 L80 L81 L86 L87 L9 L90 L91 L92 L93 L98 L99 M1 M10 M11 M16 M19 R4 R40 R41 R49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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