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. 

Best Practices

Learn from cities’ success stories contributing to the deployment of the Physical Internet
Image for Last-mile microhub in Zaragoza, Spain
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Last-mile microhub in Zaragoza, Spain
Zaragoza is one of the biggest cities in Spain. Its city centre has more than 53,000 citizens and, with the ecommerce growth, concentrates the majority of the last mile deliveries.
Image for Cityporto: Urban distribution service for the city of Padova
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Cityporto: Urban distribution service for the city of Padova
Urban city logistics is a pivotal facet of maintaining the daily functioning of a city and ensuring the well-being of its residents.
Image for Madrid: Piloting a sustainable last-mile delivery system
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Madrid: Piloting a sustainable last-mile delivery system
The rise of e-commerce has dramatically increased the presence of delivery vans in our cities, causing more C02 emissions, noise pollution, and congestion.

Products

Check out the technologies supporting the deployment of the Physical Internet.
Image for SHQUARED: Micro-Hubs for logistics
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SHQUARED: Micro-Hubs for logistics

A digital platform for micro hubs sharing.

Image for Dynamic Route Optimization, Mobile Driver App & Tracking
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Dynamic Route Optimization, Mobile Driver App & Tracking

Optiyol is a B2B SaaS which helps retailers and carriers for end-to-end optimization of logistics; from planning with advanced algorithms to execution with a driver app providing visibility.

Image for Smart Point: Reducing delivery vans in cities.
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Smart Point: Reducing delivery vans in cities.

Smart Point designs zero emission delivery networks for smart cities. Micro neighbourhood hubs connected via a decentralized routing system, enabling all couriers to deliver 8x more efficiently.