Last mile solutions: Micro-depots relieve the environment and traffic

It is well known that open space in conurbations is one thing above all – scarce. The solution: simply build smaller? Micro-depots are rising stars in the sky of last mile logistics.

The last leg of the journey when transporting parcels and goods is usually carried out by a motorized vehicle – such as a van – to the front door. However, this last mile in particular often causes problems in cities due to narrow streets and high traffic volumes. One solution is to create smaller logistics locations in the city that are as centrally located as possible and serve as interim storage facilities: so-called micro-depots, also known as micro-hubs. These are usually delivered by truck or van, and the final delivery of the goods is then made by cargo bike or on foot with a handcart. Particularly in inner-city areas, the trend is towards these small depots and buildings that are integrated into the cityscape as multifunctional logistics properties. We show two examples of innovative solutions that aim to make last-mile logistics less complicated and more sustainable.

Try on clothes in the parcel store

With its first own store in Berlin-Friedrichshain, DPD is testing ways to optimize the last mile. The building is a mixture of pick-up parcel store and micro-depot. The concept includes a room with fitting rooms and large mirrors so that ordered items of clothing can be tried on directly. Customers can decide when they pick up their parcel whether they want to take the goods home with them or post a return directly. This saves trips, as the last mile is saved twice in the case of returns, as the parcel does not even leave the parcel store. If the goods are to be delivered to the front door, e-cargo bikes are available for the couriers. This allows the parcel to cover the last mile in an environmentally friendly and traffic-reducing manner.

The so-called “recycling bar” completes the concept, which aims to make online orders more sustainable. Used and reusable packaging materials such as cardboard boxes and film can be handed in to staff. These materials are then passed on free of charge to customers who wish to send their own parcel.

Parking garage logistics

For almost two years now, micro-hubs have also been increasingly being created in parking garages to make urban logistics more sustainable. The concept is particularly suitable for multi-storey parking garage facilities: Unused capacity can be used for parcel handling, while city traffic is relieved by the use of cargo bikes instead of vehicles.

Parcel logistics company UPS and parking garage operator Apcoa Parking announced the start of an international cooperation at the end of 2021. Some time earlier, they had already tested the suitability of parking garages as a basis for exchanging parcels in Ireland. The success was so great that they are now implementing the concept in Germany, among other countries. For this purpose, containers with parcel shipments are delivered by UPS to the participating parking garages and transferred to the cargo bikes stationed there. The e-cargo bikes are also charged in the micro-hubs.

The biggest challenge in implementing such concepts continues to be the development of suitable inner-city areas. Building regulations often determine the success of a project: other road users must not be hindered, and the depots should be in keeping with the urban environment in terms of appearance.

The examples just mentioned show that a certain change in thinking is often the key to innovative business models. Collaborations that may not seem obvious at first glance can turn out to be a win-win situation for all parties involved and thus make a valuable contribution to multifunctional logistics real estate. BUILDINX has therefore set itself the task of bringing together the right contacts in order to develop logistics properties in dialog that meet the various requirements of our society.

Author: Franziska Steffes