e-COMSTRAT
The objective of e-COMSTRAT is to provide new knowledge about how municipalities can achieve an improved urban environment through access to delivery data. By taking part in delivery data, e-COMSTRAT will create decision support that gives municipalities the right conditions to support the sustainable development of e-commerce deliveries.
In 2020, e-commerce sales in Sweden increased by 40%. For metropolitan regions, that number was 65% and the forecast shows continued growth of around 10-15% per year. The project idea was inspired by a government assignment that Trafikanalys received in 2019. This showed that there is a lack of knowledge and insight into the consequences that a changed trade sector contributes to, primarily driven by the development of e-commerce. Especially in public planning, a lack of insight is highlighted. To change this, e-COMSTRAT was initiated.
e-COMSTRAT's contribution
By making delivery data in the form of transported quantities, distributed over time and approximate location of recipients available, the municipality gains improved insights into where there may be a need for efforts that need to be added or adapted in the physical environment.
Sharing data linked to deliveries also opens up other possibilities. Therefore, the project will investigate the potential for how delivery data can be used for, for example, consolidation. Sharing of delivery data is a prerequisite for understanding which goods are transported and how the transports are carried out. This understanding is the basis for understanding how goods can be consolidated and co-distributed and what capacity this requires both in terms of logistics properties, handling and transport capabilities.
Focus areas within e-COMSTRAT
Data-driven urban development
In this part of the project, the actors have worked together to produce relevant delivery data from e-sold goods that are useful for the cities to gain insight into. The information has concerned the number of deliveries at postcode number level distributed by delivery location and period of the day for four selected areas. The work has been carried out by the City of Stockholm, the City of Gothenburg and nShift.
What data has been made available?
- Distribution between different delivery types
- Number of deliveries broken down by day of the week and time of day
- Approach to key figures for the city: number of deliveries per household per week
Areas tested:
Central densely built-up areas with multi-storey buildings vs densely built-up residential areas outside the city centre.
Stockholm: Södermalm and Bromma
Gothenburg: Matshugget-Olivedal and Askim
Benefits for participating municipalities:
- A step for increased understanding of e-commerce and the impact on the cityscape
- Agent deliveries common in all areas, an important element in the street environment in the future as well
- Parcel lockers become an important complement to increase accessibility
- In the long term, data on the distribution of time and days can provide a basis for more efficient regulation of loading bays and short-term parking
Future Data Management - Lessons Learned and Reflections:
- Important for municipalities to enable easy data sharing for external parties
- A more continuous data exchange needs to be added
- Prioritize routines and responsibilities around the city's digital information and data management
- Create conditions for sharing data anonymously. For example, by using platforms that can combine data from different organizations that create an overall picture
Sharing of anonymized delivery data for co-distribution
In this part of the project, how data is used to create the conditions for increased coordination, pooling and transport efficiency is investigated. Development work is underway to produce a digital twin of the city of Helsingborg. Helsinborg's satd, Nowaste Logistics, HM and Ikea participate and within the project a tool created by Iteam developed within the nearby project Predicitve Movement is used.
The digital twin becomes a visual simulation tool where the city and other actors can gain an understanding of the transport flows in the city. Furthermore, various new transport solutions such as pooling of goods can be tested digitally in the tool before physical tests. To create the best possible model, data is needed. HM and Ikea assist the project with data linked to their deliveries of goods.
Who is in?
Actors who participate cover the needs owner, software supplier, retailer, technology supplier, property owner, research actor and innovation facilitator. This shows that the project starts from a real need and works based on the current situation to ensure that what is produced within the project is relevant, creates benefit and can be used on a larger scale.
Nshift, Ikea, Stockholms stad, Göteborgs Stad, Helsingborg, HM, Nowaste, Relog & CLOSER
E-comstrat is financed via Drive Sweden.
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