Unattended Collection and Delivery Points: Exploring the Concept and Physical Dimensioning

Sammanfattning: The unattended collection and delivery point (UCDP) is one of several solutions to address the delivery issues arisen by increasing online retail sales. There are four solutions of the UCDP concept: the traditional parcel locker, the automated box design, the automated pillar design and the cart design. Moreover, the physical dimensioning of a UCDP mainly needs to consider the number of orders, order composition and the customers’ mean times to retrieve their orders. This Master thesis project has been conducted in collaboration with Inter IKEA System Services AB (IISSAB) to examine the existing solutions of the UCDP concept, as well as how certain factors affect the physical dimensioning of a UCDP. This thesis will provide answers to the following research questions: - Which solutions exist for the UCDP concept and what are their characteristics? - How do the number of orders, order composition, customer behaviour, UCDP localization and schedules of the UCDP service provider affect the utilization and dimensioning of storage containers of the UCDP? To provide the answers, a simulation study was conducted in combination with reviewing both academic and non-academic sources. Aside for contributing to the research field of UCDPs, this thesis has the following additional contributions: - It suggests that UCDPs should be used together with other delivery solutions. - It suggests that an increase or decrease in number of orders does not generate the same proportionate adjustment of utilization of storage containers of the UCDP. - It has provided a simulation tool to dimension a UCDP. - It presents recommendations and managerial guidelines when implementing UCDPs.