**6. City logistics: moving forward**

The city logistics efficiency would highly be depending on the efficiency of the last mile delivery. The receivers in the city need to have quick, easy services and the service providers have to fulfill these requirements to remain competitive in the industry. The usage of the latest technology has been seen as one of the tools for the service providers to have competitive advantage in the business. The technology enables the service provider to obtain as much relevant data as possible and analyze the data in order to make improvements in their services. The big data concept has help service providers to understand the requirements of the customer much better. Technology would enable receivers to enjoy real time tracking information, monitoring the movements of cargo, can receive information if delay occurs and other relevant information which would make the receivers feels that the cargo is always with them all the time [16]. New services can be introduced by using technology for examples crowdsourcing from drivers can be done and this would assist small companies to compete with huge organization.

#### *Sustainable and Efficient City Logistics DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104413*

As the main objectives of city logistics is to remain the sustainability of the city, a few strategies can be implemented to help to sustain the environment. Introducing a specific requirement on type of trucks that can operate in the city center can be one of the approaches [21]. Trucks which fulfill the requirements will be given some identification so that they can operates in the city center. Apart from that developed specific regulations to manage urban freight movements should be in place. By managing the urban logistics, freight deliveries can be effectively rather than implementing strict restrictions for the deliveries. New zoning system can be incorporated to manage the freight deliveries. Locating the right locations for urban distribution center and also parking area can assists the effectiveness of the last mile deliveries. By having pick up and drop off boxes in strategic area, can reduce the number deliveries to houses and also office premises. This means the need of consolidating the cargo need to done and the concept of parcel hub before the last mile delivery process can be done successfully. Another difficult task to perform but will provide good result is encouraging deliveries during off peak period. This means the services providers need to change its operations time. However, this need to be agreed between the service providers and also the receivers. This approach can be effective if the government provide incentives not only to the service providers but also to the receivers as well.

The new strategies in the city logistics, could be more effective and efficient with the introduction of the new technologies to support the changes. The development of IR4.0 has made city logistics very much vulnerable to changes. City logistics need to embrace digital changes for the operations to be very much efficient. It is well known that big data, automation and digital connectivity has become the new crucial way in performing excellent city logistics operations [16]. The acceleration of cargo volume, velocity, the differences in real-time data which continuing very high important information has become the main focus. With this acceleration, the need to change all the data in meaningful decision making has become a reality and a critical technological enhancement to improve city logistics [33].

City logistics requires innovation in delivering and receiving of cargo if the new strategies implementation to be successful. A synchronous movement of cargo by separating the delivery time from the time cargo receive by customers. With development of IR4.0, automated and autonomous delivery system in the city logistics operations has been developed rapidly. The delivery by using drones, droids and automatic vehicles has been connected with automation efforts. Drones has been one of the latest approaches in making delivery in the city environments. It has been proven that drones are able to reduce the C02 emission in the city center [34]. However, to make drones delivery very much more practical, and integrated movement between road vehicles such as van and small trucks would enhance the efficiency of city logistics delivery since drones can be used for the definite last mile delivery. Even though drones can be seen as an interesting way of performing the very last mile delivery, there a few challenges that the drone's operators need to overcome. One of the problems, drones could be efficient for a very small package delivery. Ina research study, a number of 16 drones are needed to make a delivery for a van operation. Apart from that, a minimum space for landing and take-off must be available at the receivers' locations. If the receivers live in high rise apartment, this space might not be available. Other issues also need to adhere such as the security aspects, noise pollution, changing the current air space regulation and difficult to operation during bad weather could jeopardize the efficient operations of drones [35].

Apart from drones for the last mile delivery, many firms have the initiates to introduce road base autonomous vehicle deliveries or AVs. Many studies have been conducted to

deliver different kind of product from pizza, grocery and medical supplies. Many types of AVs have been develop [36, 37]. These new delivery systems are estimated to reduce the delivery costs by 50% also and reduce congestions by 4% since the AVs are able to provide with better driving attitude with a good navigation system [38]. The usage of robot has also been another new technology alternatives in making deliveries. Is has also reduce the number of environmental issues, Congestions and also the delivery cost.

All the new digital technology implemented for making last mile delivery has shown that it will help to make the city center more sustainable. Air pollution, noise pollution, congestions and also cost of operations has been indicated can be reduced by using these new technologies. However, the initial cost of capital needs to plan so that the cost is not too expensive for the operators and firm to invest since it would attract more company to invest on the new digital system if the initial cost is not too high. This would be crucial for cities that are located in developing countries since capital investment will be one of the important criteria to make the investment decision, even though the system will benefit the firm operations in the long run. For the automation to successfully implemented in the city logistics operations, the development of internet of Things need to in place. IoT would enable cloud computing, artificial intelligent and data collection to assists the city logistics operations. These new technologies would ensure the real time information analysis can be further used in city logistics operations [39].

A new concept in introducing Interconnected City Logistics has the aim to improve economic, environmental and societal efficiency. The concept of Interconnected city logistics is supported by the physical internet. Physical Internet is aspired by the internet itself where information and communication technology help data to travel as quickly as possible. Physical internet is developed by redesigning the logistics activities which suites the efficiency and sustainability challenges [40]. Interconnected City logistics is focusing on nine core concepts. These concepts need to synthesize with the digitalization to make is more successful. The core concept is [41]:

a.cities as nodes of the world's logistics web

b.cities by system standardization


One of the tools to ensure this concept is successful implemented is the usage of internet of things. Digital platforms need to be available to ensure that the

connectivity is efficient which would assist in making better decision regarding city logistics delivery in the digitalization era.
