Selecting the Flexible Last-Mile Delivery Models Using Multicriteria Decision-Making

Abstract

Postal service providers can reorganize the last-mile delivery process within the scope of universal service and apply some of the flexible models for the organization of the delivery process. In this paper, the question of the selection of Flexible Last-Mile Delivery Models (FLMDM) is treated using multicriteria decision-making. We have identified four different sustainable models of last-mile delivery with an emphasis on the number of delivery workers. One postal service provider from Europe was selected, where proposed FLMDM are tested. The proposed last-mile delivery models are ranked using Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) technique. In this context, MCDA techniques are used to make a comparative assessment of alternatives. This paper aims to find the optimal delivery costs in each variant of the delivery model - an optimal number of workers for the last-mile delivery. The obtained results suggest the AB delivery model as the optimal choice for the last-mile delivery. Also, results ensure the complete allocation of the required number of technological workers in the delivery (the number of delivery workers), by applying the originally proposed, flexible solution (models) for the organization of last-mile delivery.