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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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.
Image for Leuven: Reimagining the curbside
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Leuven: Reimagining the curbside
Cities curbs, being the interface between roads and sidewalks, are more contested than ever due to the growth of urban logistics, active mobility, and new mobility.
Image for Madrid: Urban Consolidation Center supported by a Digital Twin
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Madrid: Urban Consolidation Center supported by a Digital Twin
Madrid is an important logistics hub, located within the Atlantic and the Mediterranean TEN-T corridors. Since the pandemic outbreak, the city experienced a substantial increase in
Image for Prague: Implementing cargo bicycle hubs
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Prague: Implementing cargo bicycle hubs
Delivery vans occupy the historical centre of town Bicycles are not very well used in the city and cargo bikes were almost unheard of by citizens before this scheme The terra

Products

Check out the technologies supporting the deployment of the Physical Internet.
Image for EASYRAILFREIGHT
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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
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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
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Whee! Cargobike subscription service

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

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.

Image for Cargo-bike Parcels Box
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Cargo-bike Parcels Box

Minimizing the time required to transfer high volumes of parcels at cargo-bike hubs is crucial for establishing new sustainable logistics chains.

Image for FlexCurb Driver by Urban Radar
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FlexCurb Driver by Urban Radar

Equip drivers with better access to loading zones. Reduce emissions. Double parking. Improve city's understanding of curb needs.

Image for FlexCurb Planning by Urban Radar
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FlexCurb Planning by Urban Radar

Streamline decision making on curb planning. Digitize curb and parking regulations in a central inventory. Identify and balance curb supply to city goals. Communicate curb regulations effectively.

Image for Last Mile Digital Platform
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Last Mile Digital Platform

Fairer, smarter and greener urban logistics and last mile delivery business models.Solutions that deliver up to 30% reduction in congestion and emissions, up to 25% reduction in transport and delivery

Image for Autonomous Delivery Technology for Online Order Platforms.
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Autonomous Delivery Technology for Online Order Platforms.

We reimagine last-mile delivery process by using autonomous sidewalk robots positioned at pre-defined locations around the sustainable cities.