IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlogis/v7y2023i4p90-d1292306.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Can We Do More with Less? Analyzing the Organization of Flexibility of Space and Infrastructure at UDCs: A Case Study for Food Center Amsterdam

Author

Listed:
  • Rogier Pennings

    (Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Bart Wiegmans

    (Regional Economics and Cultural Heritage, Province of North Holland, Houtplein 33, 2012 DE Haarlem, The Netherlands)

  • Tejo Spit

    (Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Background : How can flexible applications of the space and infrastructure of urban distribution centers (UDCs) be organized to help lower demands on space and infrastructure in cities? The application of flexible use of space and infrastructure can improve the efficiency of a UDC, but the challenge lies in the organization of the application of flexibility. Methods : The goal of this research was to identify how flexibility can be organized to impact overall societal benefits for the stakeholders in UDCs. This explorative and qualitative research was applied to the case of Food Center Amsterdam. Results : The results show that stakeholders have a limited understanding of the potential that flexibility can offer; that there is a need for an independent organizing capability and responsibility for collaboration on flexibility; and that a clear way to divide costs, benefits, risks, and opportunities in relation to stakeholder interests is required. Conclusions : Overall, flexibility shows potential to improve the efficient use of infrastructure and space. Further research avenues include the initiation of an organizing capability and distribution method for costs, benefits, risks, and opportunities between stakeholders. The remaining question is, can we get this organized in order to do more with less?

Suggested Citation

  • Rogier Pennings & Bart Wiegmans & Tejo Spit, 2023. "Can We Do More with Less? Analyzing the Organization of Flexibility of Space and Infrastructure at UDCs: A Case Study for Food Center Amsterdam," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlogis:v:7:y:2023:i:4:p:90-:d:1292306
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/7/4/90/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/7/4/90/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Snoeck, André & Winkenbach, Matthias, 2020. "The value of physical distribution flexibility in serving dense and uncertain urban markets," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 151-177.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Schmidt, Carise E. & Silva, Arinei C.L. & Darvish, Maryam & Coelho, Leandro C., 2023. "Time-dependent fleet size and mix multi-depot vehicle routing problem," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    2. Janjevic, Milena & Merchán, Daniel & Winkenbach, Matthias, 2021. "Designing multi-tier, multi-service-level, and multi-modal last-mile distribution networks for omni-channel operations," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 294(3), pages 1059-1077.
    3. Yu, Vincent F. & Jodiawan, Panca & Hou, Ming-Lu & Gunawan, Aldy, 2021. "Design of a two-echelon freight distribution system in last-mile logistics considering covering locations and occasional drivers," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    4. Jafari, Hamid & Eslami, Mohammad H. & Paulraj, Antony, 2022. "Postponement and logistics flexibility in retailing: The moderating role of logistics integration and demand uncertainty," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    5. Hess, Alexander & Spinler, Stefan & Winkenbach, Matthias, 2021. "Real-time demand forecasting for an urban delivery platform," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    6. Merkert, Rico & Beck, Matthew J. & Bushell, James, 2021. "Will It Fly? Adoption of the road pricing framework to manage drone use of airspace," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 156-170.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlogis:v:7:y:2023:i:4:p:90-:d:1292306. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.