How the cargo bike wins the last mile

E-commerce thrives on the smooth delivery of parcels by courier express parcel services. This ensures customer satisfaction, which encourages repeat purchases. But nowadays it is not only essential that the parcel reaches the end customer at the required time, but also by what means and at what cost to the environment. These are partly responsible for the increase in greenhouse gases, which in turn has led to climate change. Current developments show that more and more consumers expect and demand sustainable alternatives from companies.

The future of courier services 

Therefore, the goal is to make courier services as environmentally friendly and also as customer-friendly as possible. The logistics industry is striving to optimize and revolutionize this sector. The so-called last mile, by which is meant the last stretch of the transport of goods to the end customer, is to be taken over in the future by autonomously controlled vehicles, robots or drones. 

However, the e-commerce revolution does not necessarily have to depend on high-tech drones or autonomous vehicles, because the cargo bike is already one step ahead of these technologies. Drones are environmentally friendly and avoid increased traffic. However, the development is still virtually in its infancy. In addition to weak battery and too low cargo capacity, the legal side is a major hurdle, so the use of these must be ruled out at this time, but may be a viable option in the future. 

Delivery by cargo bike already allows any retailer, local or online, to offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly delivery service that meets the needs and expectations of their customers. 

The advantages of cargo bikes 

The advantages of the cargo bike are summarized by the Technical University of Nuremberg in terms of the four points ecology, traffic, economy and social issues (source: Journal for Mobility and Traffic):

Ecology

Products can be delivered in a more ecologically sustainable and environmentally friendly way by cargo bike than by fuel-powered vehicles. The cargo bike is powered by muscle power (and partly by electric motors), which means that customers can finally be offered a green last mile. The last mile is the last part of the supply chain until the final parcel delivery. 

Economics

Using a cargo bike not only has a positive impact on the environment. Retailers and their customers can benefit greatly from this delivery option. The short distances in urban areas allow parcels to be delivered on the same day as the order or in the time window chosen by the customer, just as he or she wishes. 

Traffic

Expecting traffic to flow smoothly in German city centers seems utopian. It is not only the morning and evening rush hour that is to blame for the difficulty of getting around on the roads. The familiar yellow, white and black delivery vans crowd closely together in the cities. They stop in the second row, blocking the view and blocking paths. The size of cargo bikes (approx. max. 3.0m x 1.0,) reduces the amount of traffic space taken up by a fuel-powered delivery vehicle by approx. 80%. A search for a parking space becomes irrelevant. The bikes can stop directly in front of the front doors, using the sidewalk in case of emergency. 

Social

Freight bikes fulfil an important social function. On the one hand, the usual noise of delivery trucks, which harms the quality of life of residents, is eliminated. On the other hand, the entire city can become a role model for sustainable urban living and thus support pioneering concepts. If the streets are used less by delivery trucks and more by cargo bikes, this creates an attractive cityscape. The image of the city changes positively and the satisfaction of the inhabitants increases. 

An advantage of cargo bikes that should not be underestimated is that delivery can start today and now. The infrastructures form the fifth advantage of the cargo bike!

Infrastructures 

The infrastructures and rights needed for delivery by cargo bike exist. Local delivery fleets already exist in German cities. What is simply missing is the connection of these to the dealers, retail chains and online shops. Sendit.Green has developed software to solve this problem. 

With our solution, merchants can connect to our ecosystem with one click and deliver today in a way that is not only environmentally friendly but also customer friendly. 

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