List of terminology

An ADL can be any alternative location to homes where a parcel can be delivered to. This can be a local kiosk, a mobile or permanent parcel locker, or store pick-up.

An ADV is a self-driving vehicle that delivers goods on public roads with little or without human intervention. An ADV uses sensors, cameras, artificial intelligence, and navigation systems to drive itself from a retailer, service provider or larger vehicle to a customer’s location. An ADV can be a car, van, truck, or robot, depending on the size and nature of the goods it delivers. An ADV can also avoid some of the problems faced by human drivers, such as traffic congestion, parking availability, and driver fatigue.

E-commerce is the online buying and selling of goods or services. It uses websites, apps, or other digital platforms to conduct commercial transactions. E-commerce benefits businesses and customers by offering global reach, operational efficiency, and convenient shopping. E-commerce can operate in different markets, offer various products and services, and use different technologies. E-commerce is a disruptive technology that has changed the retail industry and consumer behaviour.

The delivery of goods to the final destination and/or user. The last leg of the supply chain.  The last mile can for example be the delivery of an online order from the terminal or parcel sorting centre to the home of the consumer or to a parcel locker. Types of delivery include for example, attended or non-attended home delivery, mobile or permanent parcel locker, store pick-up and other solutions.

Light Electric Freight Vehicles (LEFVs) are vehicles that use electric power to transport goods in urban and suburban areas. LEFVs are typically smaller and lighter than conventional vans or trucks, and can have two, three, or four wheels. LEFVs can be pedal-assisted, such as electric cargo cycles (e-cargo bikes), or fully electric, such as electric scooters or quadricycles.

Company offering logistics services, including last mile deliveries. LSPs may be global companies such as DHL, but also their sub-contractors that do for example home deliveries.

Small logistics facilities where goods are prepared for delivery to the final destination, often using low-emission freight vehicles (LEFVs) such as cargo cycles. They can be operated by a single user or by multiple users who share the space, but do not consolidate their shipments as they would in an urban consolidation centre (UCC). Micro hubs are often located in former retail spaces, underground parking facilities, former gas stations or dynamic containers.

The platform economy, also called the gig-economy, refers to new forms of businesses and employment where individuals are self-employed freelancers providing services for multisided-platform companies that serve customers providing for example food and grocery delivery.

A retailer or shipper is a business that sells goods or services to final consumers. Retailers can sell in different ways, such as in stores, online, or door-to-door. Retailers can offer different or specific products and provide extra services to the consumers.

UCCs are facilities that aggregate goods flows from multiple carriers, consolidating delivery rounds in the city centres, usually run by one company. UCCs aim to reduce the number of vehicles entering the urban area, improve the efficiency of urban freight transport, and lower the environmental and social impacts of urban deliveries. UCCs can offer various services to their customers, such as storage, sorting, packing, labelling, inventory management, and reverse logistics. UCCs can also use low-emission freight vehicles (LEFVs) such as electric vans or cargo cycles to perform the last-mile deliveries from the UCC to the final destination.