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Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search (ALNS) is a fairly recent yet popular single-solution heuristic for solving discrete optimization problems. Even though the heuristic has been a popular choice for researchers in recent times, the parallelization of this algorithm is not widely studied in the literature compared to the other classical metaheuristics. To extend the existing literature, this study proposes several different parallel schemes to parallelize the basic/sequential ALNS algorithm. More specifically, seven different parallel schemes are employed to target different characteristics of the ALNS algorithm and the capability of the local computers. The schemes of this study are implemented in a master-slave architecture to manage and assign loads in processors of the local computers. The overall goal is to simultaneously explore different areas of the search space in an attempt to escape the local minima, taking effective steps toward the optimal solution and, to the end, accelerating the convergence of the ALNS algorithm. The performance of the schemes is tested by solving a capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP) with available wellknown test instances. Our computational results indicate that all the parallel schemes are capable of providing a competitive optimality gap in solving CVRP within our investigated test instances. However, the parallel scheme (scheme 1), which runs the ALNS algorithm independently within different slave processors (e.g., without sharing any information with other slave processors) until the synchronization occurs only when one of the processors meets its predefined termination criteria and reports the solution to the master processor, provides the best running time with solving the instances approximately 10.5 times faster than the basic/sequential ALNS algorithm. These findings are applied in a real-life fulfillment process using mixed-mode delivery with trucks and drones. Complex but optimized routes are generated in a short time that is applicable to perform last-mile delivery to customers.

The prevalence of online shopping has steadily risen in the last few years. In response to these changes, last-mile delivery services have emerged that enable goods to reach customers within a shorter timeframe compared to traditional logistics providers. However, with decreased lead times follows greater exposure to risks that directly influence customer satisfaction. More specifically, this report aims to investigate the extent to which Supervised and Automatic Machine Learning can be leveraged to extract those features that have the highest explanatory power dictating customer ratings. The implementation suggests that Random Forest Classifier outperforms both Multi-Layer Perceptron and Support Vector Machine in predicting customer ratings on a highly imbalanced version of the dataset, while AutoML soars when the dataset is subject to undersampling. Using Permutation Feature Importance and Shapley Additive Explanations, it was further concluded that whether the delivery is on time, whether the delivery is executed within the stated time window, and whether the delivery is executed during the morning, afternoon, or evening, are paramount drivers of customer ratings. / Förekomsten av online-shopping har kraftigt ökat de senaste åren. I kölvattnet av dessa förändringar har flertalet sista-milen företag etablerats som möjliggör för paket att nå kunder inom en kortare tidsperiod jämfört med traditionella logistikföretag. Däremot, med minskade ledtider följer större exponering mot risker som direkt påverkar kundernas upplevelse av sista-milen tjänsten. Givet detta syftar denna rapport till att undersöka huruvida övervakad och automtisk maskininlärning kan användas för att extrahera de parametrar som har störst påverkan på kundnöjdhet. Implementationen visar att slumpmässiga beslutsträd överträffar både neurala nätverk och stödvektorsmaskiner i syfte att förutspå kundnöjdhet på en obalanserad version av träningsdatan, medan automatisk maskininlärning överträffar övriga modeller på en balanserad version. Genom användning av metoderna Permutation Feature Importance och Shapley Additive Explanations, framgick att huruvida paketet är försenad, huruvida paketet levereras inom det angivet tidsfönster, och huruvida paketet anländer under morgonen, eftermiddagen, eller kvällen, har störst påverkan på kundnöjdhet.

E-handel har de senaste åren ständigt ökat vilket har bidragit till ökande krav på hållbaratransporter vilket medverkat till forskning av alternativ till traditionella transportföretag.Crowdshipping är ett koncept där det med hjälp av teknologiska applikationer kan utnyttjaindividers resurser för att skapa transportnätverk inom urbana områden. Användandet avindivider som redan är på väg till en plats och tar med ett paket i farten kan innebära mindrefordon på vägarna. I denna studie samlade vi in empirisk data genom att skicka ut en enkät till olika facebook-grupper bestående av studenter i Sverige och utförde två fokusgrupper med totalt åtta deltagare. Syftet med enkäten och fokusgrupperna var att undersöka respondenternasinställning och uppfattade hinder/möjligheter till crowdshipping. Med kunskap samlat utifrånvetenskapliga artiklar kunde ett teoretiskt ramverk etableras. Genom att studerat väsentligafaktorer till crowdshipping (tillit och säkerhet, miljö och hållbarhet, tid ochkompensation/prissättning) kunde vi analysera vårt empiriska material. Analysen byggs uppefter de teoretiska faktorerna som har inverkan på crowdshipping. Det visade sig attrespondenterna hade bekymmer med flertal säkerhetsaspekter inom CS-initiativ sompåverkade deras inställning negativt. Dock ansåg många respondenter initiativet som positivtifall det gick att säkerställa miljömässiga fördelar och flertalet säkerhetsaspektertillhandahölls. / E-commerce has steadily increased in recent years, which has contributed to increaseddemands for sustainable transport, which contributes to research into alternatives totraditional transport companies. Crowdshipping is a concept where, with the help oftechnological applications, it can utilize individuals' resources to create transport networks inurban areas. The use of individuals who are already on their way to a place and taking apackage on the go can mean fewer vehicles on the roads. In this study, we collected empirical data by sending out a questionnaire to various Facebookgroups consisting of students in Sweden and conducted two focus groups with a total of eightparticipants. The purpose of the survey and focus groups was to examine the respondents'attitudes and perceived obstacles/opportunities for crowdshipping. With knowledge gatheredbased on scientific articles, a theoretical framework could be established. By studyingsignificant factors for crowdshipping (trust and security, environment and sustainability, timeand compensation/pricing), we were able to analyze our empirical material. The analysis isbased on the theoretical factors that have an impact on crowdshipping. It turned out that therespondents had concerns with several security aspects within CS initiatives that had anegative effect on their attitude. However, many respondents considered the initiative to bepositive if it was possible to ensure environmental benefits and most safety aspects wereprovided.

<p>The rise of technologies and the Internet have provided opportunities to connect logistics demand and supply using the crowd. In this system, named crowd-shipping (CS), a requester doing the shipping selects a courier via a platform. In reality, the idea of CS has been explored by many firms over the last several years. However, there is a lack of fundamental understanding of the issues related to: (1) the markets that are likely to be influenced by CS; (2) the considerations that govern the success of this system; and the (3) the impacts of CS and its design.</p><p><br></p> <p>To address these issues, there is a need of understanding CS system's stakeholders, such as requesters' (i.e. senders') and potential couriers' (i.e. driver-partners') behaviors as well as operations and management of CS firms. This research will address these gaps by conducting a survey to understand driver-partners' behaviors and requesters' behaviors given the CS services availability in the logistics market. Then, pricing and compensation strategies are designed and modeled based on behavior rules of supply and demand generations as well as various CS market penetrations. As such, this research addresses the CS industry in a triad of supply, demand, and operations and management.</p><p><br></p> <p>This research uses advanced econometrics, statistics analysis, mixed integer optimization, and data science techniques to analyze data and generate insights. The contributions of this research are to identify the contributing factors that impact the emerging logistics service. This research also reveals factors that influence the current and future shipping behaviors of requesters, as well as influencing factors of the individuals' willingness to work as driver-partners. The integrated matching and routing models have been developed to examine different pricing and compensation strategies under several market penetration scenarios. `Individual' price and compensation have found to provide the highest profit for CS platform providers.</p><p><br></p> <p>This research provides meaningful knowledge for stakeholders, especially for the CS firms to develop business strategies. Several remarkable benefits that CS firms can obtain include: focusing on some specific population groups to recruit driver-partners (e.g. people with children, middle-aged people having lower incomes, or no car ownership); addressing certain market segments to promote CS services (e.g. tight-window delivery packages, peripheral products, or personal health and medicine items); implementing `individual' or `flatted' pricing and compensation strategies depending on the time of the day, the day of the week, or the market penetration; and improving platform features to incorporate requesters' and driver-partners' expectations.</p>

We have conducted a study that is intended to investigate and understand how logistics companies in city logistics handle increased e-commerce challenges and describe what actions they take. To be able to do that, two question formulations have been formulated that goes: “What challenges, caused by an increased e-commerce, exist for logistics companies within city logistics?” and “What are logistics companies doing to address the challenges that exist and that are caused by increased e-commerce?”. Further is the theoretical frame of references presented where challenges and innovations for logistics companies in city logistics is a central point. We have used a qualitative approach, where semi-structured interviews have been used to get the essential information to be able to analyze towards our theoretical frame of references. Headliners that are found in the theoretical frame of references reappear in both the empirical material and the analysis to get a common thread throughout the study. In the analysis, we have our question formulations as headliners to really analyze challenges and innovations. Our study has contributed to an increased understanding of how logistics companies handle an increased e-commerce challenge and describe what actions they take. We have noted that the increased e-commerce has led to challenges for logistics companies in city logistics. We concluded that e-commerce has become more complex with shorter lead time, more but smaller packages and higher demands from consumers have been added, which is considered a challenge for logistics companies. The study shows the main challenges that increased e-commerce brought. The study also shows various innovations and actions by logistics companies within city logistics. / Vi har gjort en studie som är ämnad att undersöka och förstå hur logistikföretag inom citylogistik hanterar ökade e-handelsutmaningar samt beskriva åtgärder de vidtar. För att kunna göra det har vi utgått från två frågeställningar som lyder: “Vilka utmaningar, orsakade av ökad e-handel, finns för logistikföretag inom citylogistik?” och “Vad görlogistikföretag inom citylogistik för att hantera de utmaningar som finns och som är orsakade av ökad e-handel?” Vidare presenteras det teoretiska referensram där utmaningar och innovationer för logistikföretag inom citylogistik är en central del. Vi har använt oss utav ett kvalitativt angreppssätt där vi har genomfört semistrukturerade intervjuer för att få den väsentliga informationen för att kunna analysera gentemot vår teoretiska referensram. Rubriker som finns i den teoretiska referensramen återkommer i både det empiriska materialet och analysen för att få en röd tråd genom hela studien. I analysen har vi däremot våra frågeställningar som huvudrubriker för att verkligen analysera utmaningarna och innovationerna. Vår studie har bidragit med en ökad förståelse hur logistikföretag inom citylogistik hanterar ökad e-handelsutmaningar samt vilka åtgärder de vidtar. Vi har konstaterat att den ökade e-handeln har medfört utmaningar för logistikföretag inom citylogistik. E-handelslogiken har blivit mer komplex på senaste tiden där korta ledtider, fler men mindre paket och högre krav från konsumenterna har tillkommit vilket anses som utmaningar för logistikföretagen. Studien visar på de huvudsakliga utmaningarna som ökad e-handel medfört. Studien visar även på olika innovationer och åtgärder som används av logistikföretag inom citylogistik.

Since more and more customers switch to online purchases, the last-mile delivery problemhas created a huge burden on companies and cities. The increasing parcel delivery leads toextra operational costs in logistics and congestion in cities. IKEA, the furniture retailcompany, is going to propose a project – IKEA Urban Multi Hub to solve this problem byallowing customers to carry back orders themselves. This study collaborates with IKEA toinvestigate and formulate a robust hub that customers are willing to visit. The aim of thisresearch is to identify appropriate locations for the hub and possible future mobility that thehub should provide. Moreover, develop concepts and strategies for two cities - Shanghai cityand New York City.Research and customer interview were fundamental parts of this project. The research partincludes literature review and background that helps to preliminary clarify urban conditions,possible future mobility, and travel behavior. The customer interview part investigatescustomers’ preferences in two selected cities which helps to realize their needs and gaininspiration. The results showed that clustering with metro stations and providingautonomous mobility may create a smooth customer self-delivery experience for IKEA UrbanMulti Hub. Besides, cooperating with logistic companies can reduce the operation risk of theHub and strengthen the business model. Further concepts and strategies developed for twoselected cities are described in the thesis.

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The rapid growth of E-commerce around the world has prompted related stakeholders to place a greater emphasis on automation. Catastrophes like pandemics are boosting the public demand for quick and efficient transportation, among others. Automated vehicle technologies are associated with the last-mile delivery operations that lead to improving sustainability and Smart Cities. In this context, Autonomous Vehicles are being explored as a viable urban logistics solution.This empirical thesis conducts a feasibility study to investigate the feasibility of incorporating an Autonomous Vehicle into E-commerce operations in Stockholm, Sweden. A case study is analyzed by foodora AB, a German company that operates as a distributor of food and goods in the Swedish market. The study provides a framework that depicts the issues faced by Q- commerce, Operational Planning, and Stakeholders, respectively when introducing Autonomous Vehicles. The results of the study’s qualitative and quantitative approach show that Stockholm's infrastructure is in line with the sustainability plans and is considered ready for droid operations. According to the findings, the utilization rate that is defined as the number of orders delivered per hour can be as high as 2.4 resulting in a high degree of customer satisfaction. However, regulations, classifications, weather conditions, and internet connectivity continue to be major challenges. Autonomous Vehicles must be included in legislative consideration as a mode of transportation in the future to facilitate operations and safety measures. / Den snabba tillväxten av e-handel runtom i världen har fått närstående intressenter att lägga större vikt vid automatisering. Katastrofer som pandemier ökar allmänhetens krav på bland annat snabba och effektiva transporter. Autonoma fordon är förknippade med ”last-mile” transporter av gods som leder till förbättrad hållbarhet och smarta städer. I detta sammanhang utforskas autonoma fordon som en livskraftig citylogistik-lösning.Denna empiriska avhandling genomför en genomförbarhetsstudie för att undersöka möjligheten att integrera ett autonomt fordon i e-handelsverksamheten i Stockholm, Sverige. I synnerhet analyseras en fallstudie av foodora AB, ett tyskt företag som är verksamma som distributör av matvaror på den svenska marknaden. Studien ger ett ramverk som visar de frågor som Q-handel, operativ planering respektive intressenter står inför vid ett införande av autonoma fordon. Resultaten av studiens kvalitativa och kvantitativa tillvägagångssätt visar att Stockholms infrastruktur är i linje med hållbarhetsplanerna och till synes redo för droid leveranser. Enligt resultaten kan utnyttjandegraden, definierad som antal utförda orderleveranser inom en timme, vara så hög som 2,4, vilket resulterar i en hög grad av kundtillfredsställelse. Regler, klassificeringar, väderförhållanden och internetanslutning är dock fortfarande stora utmaningar. Autonoma fordon måste tas med i lagstiftningen som ett transportmedel i framtiden för att underlätta drift och säkerhetsåtgärder.

The use of autonomous agents is an ever-growing possibility in our day-to-day life and, in some cases, already a reality. One future use might be autonomous robots performing last mile deliveries, a service the company HUGO delivery is currently developing. The goal of developing their autonomous delivery robot HUGO is to reduce the emissions from deliveries in the last mile by replacing delivery trucks with emission free autonomous robots. However, this new way of receiving deliveries introduces new design challenges since most people have little to no prior experience of interacting with autonomous agents. The user interface is therefore of great importance in making the user understand and be able to interact comfortably with the autonomous agent, thus also a key aspect in reaching user adoption. This thesis work examines how an interface for an autonomous food delivery service, such as the HUGO delivery, could be designed by applying a Human-Centered Artificial intelligence and Activity Centered Design focus in the design process, resulting in a design proposal for a web app. The conclusion of the thesis includes identification of the six essential interactions present in an autonomous food delivery service, as well as how HCAI and which of its guidelines can be applied when designing an interface for the interaction with an autonomous delivery robot.