Transforming the last-mile deliveries

City logistics is undergoing a profound transformation. Emerging IoT and AI technologies are entering the market to revolutionise the supply and delivery of goods within our urban landscapes. The Physical Internet Observatory offers new ways to decarbonise and optimise last-mile logistics through a combination of physical and digital innovations. 

What is the Physical Internet Observatory? 

The concept of the 'physical internet' is a visionary approach, drawing inspiration from the way information flows on the internet while setting new benchmarks for global supply chain and last-mile logistics. The vision entails the creation of a highly interconnected and efficient physical network of transportation and logistics infrastructure, enabling greater flexibility, scalability, and sustainability for transporting goods. To do this, warehouses, transportation operators and logistics companies will need to share information and work together. The first step to making the physical internet a reality is by digitalising all available data. As the digitalisation of our physical world continues, it brings both opportunities and risks that demand proactive urban preparedness. 

The URBANE project is an initiative dedicated to addressing these challenges, by guiding and facilitating exchange between city managers, logistics firms, and transport visionaries. On the Mobility Innovation Marketplace, URBANE offers an observatory platform providing expert insights on market trends, regulatory dynamics, and innovative solutions poised to shape the future of urban logistics. 

Insights

Follow the latest news and trends about the Physical Internet.
Image for The Physical Internet: A last-mile deliveries model to free cities from traffic
3 minutes reading time
The Physical Internet: A last-mile deliveries model to free cities from traffic
An open global logistics system that improves the efficiency of freight transport thanks to a reorganisation of last-mile deliveries.

Best Practices

Learn from cities’ success stories contributing to the deployment of the Physical Internet
Image for Consolidated last-mile microhubs in Ruoholahti shopping centre
2 minutes reading time
Consolidated last-mile microhubs in Ruoholahti shopping centre
In Helsinki, one of the challenges has been to reduce the use of vans for deliveries in central areas of the city due to their contribution to local air pollution (NOx).  
Image for Cooperation amongst competitors in Bologna's parcel distribution
4 minutes reading time
Cooperation amongst competitors in Bologna's parcel distribution
In the scope of the URBANE project, the Bologna Living Lab (LL) has been implemented in the historical centre of the municipality, which has an area of about 4 km².
Image for The Physical Internet arrives to Madrid's last mile distribution
3 minutes reading time
The Physical Internet arrives to Madrid's last mile distribution
The CITYlogin collaboration with Horizon Europe PLANET Project has addressed the challenge of last mile deliv

Products

Check out the technologies supporting the deployment of the Physical Internet.
Image for EASYRAILFREIGHT
1 minutes reading time
EASYRAILFREIGHT

EasyRailFreight matches supply and demand in intermodality, facilitates the acquisition of supplementary services and offers an exhaustive overview of freight transport services in the market.

Image for ProperGate: Smart materials delivery for construction sites
1 minutes reading time
ProperGate: Smart materials delivery for construction sites

ProperGate is a digital supply ecosystem that streamlines construction logistics, reduces urban traffic, and lowers the environmental impact by connecting construction sites and material suppliers.

Image for Whee! Cargobike subscription service
1 minutes reading time
Whee! Cargobike subscription service

All inclusive cargo-bike subscription service. Costumers ride - Whee! fixes the rest.