IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ahh/wpaper/worms2105.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Simulation modeling of epidemic risk in supermarkets: Investigating the impact of social distancing and checkout zone design

Author

Listed:
  • Tomasz Antczak
  • Bartosz Skorupa
  • Mikolaj Szurlej
  • Rafal Weron
  • Jacek Zabawa

Abstract

We build an agent-based model for evaluating the spatial and functional design of supermarket checkout zones and the effectiveness of safety regulations related to distancing that have been introduced after the COVID-19 outbreak. The model is implemented in the NetLogo simulation platform and calibrated to actual point of sale data from one of major European retail chains. It enables realistic modeling of the checkout operations as well as of the airborne diffusion of SARS-CoV-2 particles. We find that opening checkouts in a specific order can reduce epidemic risk, but only under low and moderate traffic conditions. Hence, redesigning supermarket layouts to increase distances between the queues can reduce risk only if the number of open checkouts is sufficient to serve customers during peak hours.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomasz Antczak & Bartosz Skorupa & Mikolaj Szurlej & Rafal Weron & Jacek Zabawa, 2021. "Simulation modeling of epidemic risk in supermarkets: Investigating the impact of social distancing and checkout zone design," WORking papers in Management Science (WORMS) WORMS/21/05, Department of Operations Research and Business Intelligence, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology.
    • Handle: RePEc:ahh:wpaper:worms2105
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://worms.pwr.edu.pl/RePEc/ahh/wpaper/WORMS_21_05.pdf
    File Function: Original version, 2021
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dyani Lewis, 2020. "Mounting evidence suggests coronavirus is airborne — but health advice has not caught up," Nature, Nature, vol. 583(7817), pages 510-513, July.
    2. Qiancheng Xu & Mohcine Chraibi, 2020. "On the Effectiveness of the Measures in Supermarkets for Reducing Contact among Customers during COVID-19 Period," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-14, November.
    3. Pantano, Eleonora & Pizzi, Gabriele & Scarpi, Daniele & Dennis, Charles, 2020. "Competing during a pandemic? Retailers’ ups and downs during the COVID-19 outbreak," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 209-213.
    4. Tomasz Antczak & Rafal Weron & Jacek Zabawa, 2020. "Data-driven simulation modeling of the checkout process in supermarkets: Insights for decision support in retail operations," WORking papers in Management Science (WORMS) WORMS/20/16, Department of Operations Research and Business Intelligence, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology.
    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. Ali Zackery & Joseph Amankwah-Amoah & Zahra Heidari Darani & Shiva Ghasemi, 2022. "COVID-19 Research in Business and Management: A Review and Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-32, August.
    2. Chopdar, Prasanta Kr & Paul, Justin & Prodanova, Jana, 2022. "Mobile shoppers’ response to Covid-19 phobia, pessimism and smartphone addiction: Does social influence matter?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    3. Wang, Siqi & Cheah, Jun-Hwa & Lim, Xin-Jean & Leong, Yee Choy & Choo, Wei Chong, 2022. "Thanks COVID-19, I'll reconsider my purchase: Can fear appeal reduce online shopping cart abandonment?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    4. Peluso, Alessandro M. & Pichierri, Marco & Pino, Giovanni, 2021. "Age-related effects on environmentally sustainable purchases at the time of COVID-19: Evidence from Italy," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    5. Paraschiv Dorel Mihai & ȚIțan Emilia & Manea Daniela Ioana & Ionescu Crina Dana & Mihai Mihaela & Șerban Octavian, 2022. "The change in e-commerce in the context of the Coronavirus pandemic," Management & Marketing, Sciendo, vol. 17(2), pages 220-233, June.
    6. John McClure & Ilan Noy & Yoshi Kashima & Taciano L. Milfont, 2022. "Attributions for extreme weather events: science and the people," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 174(3), pages 1-17, October.
    7. Jose Ribamar Siqueira Junior & Enrique Horst & German Molina & Laura H. Gunn & Felipe Reinoso-Carvalho & Burcu Sezen & Nathalie Peña-García, 2023. "Branding in the eye of the storm: the impact of brand ethical behavior on brand commitment during the COVID-19 crisis in a South American country," Journal of Marketing Analytics, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 95-115, March.
    8. Joshi, Nupur & Lopus, Sara & Hannah, Corrie & Ernst, Kacey C. & Kilungo, Aminata P. & Opiyo, Romanus & Ngayu, Margaret & Davies, Julia & Evans, Tom, 2022. "COVID-19 lockdowns: Employment and business disruptions, water access and hygiene practices in Nairobi's informal settlements," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    9. Serravalle, Francesca & Pantano, Eleonora, 2023. "Mastering care management strategies to improve retailing: Mechanisms, capabilities, impacts and emerging opportunities," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    10. Cătălin Grădinaru & Ștefan-Alexandru Catană & Sorin George Toma & Andreea Barbu, 2022. "An Empirical Research of Students’ Perceptions Regarding M-Commerce Acquisitions during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-22, August.
    11. Tarek Ben Hassen & Hamid El Bilali & Mohammad S. Allahyari & Sinisa Berjan & Darjan Karabašević & Adriana Radosavac & Goran Dašić & Ružica Đervida, 2021. "Preparing for the Worst? Household Food Stockpiling during the Second Wave of COVID-19 in Serbia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-19, October.
    12. Jianan Li & Xiaotong Jin & Taiyang Zhao & Tiannv Ma, 2021. "Conformity Consumer Behavior and External Threats: An Empirical Analysis in China During the COVID-19 Pandemic," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(3), pages 21582440211, July.
    13. Pantano, Eleonora & Priporas, Constantinos-Vasilios & Devereux, Luke & Pizzi, Gabriele, 2021. "Tweets to escape: Intercultural differences in consumer expectations and risk behavior during the COVID-19 lockdown in three European countries," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 59-69.
    14. Kim, Minseong, 2021. "Does playing a video game really result in improvements in psychological well-being in the era of COVID-19?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    15. Małgorzata Dudzińska & Marta Gwiaździńska-Goraj & Aleksandra Jezierska-Thöle, 2022. "Social Factors as Major Determinants of Rural Development Variation for Predicting Epidemic Vulnerability: A Lesson for the Future," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-24, October.
    16. Jeong, Dayun & Ko, Eunju & Taylor, Charles R., 2023. "Don't touch the Merchandise! Factors associated with consumer preference for contact free shopping," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    17. Jiang, Yangyang & Stylos, Nikolaos, 2021. "Triggers of consumers’ enhanced digital engagement and the role of digital technologies in transforming the retail ecosystem during COVID-19 pandemic," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    18. Lu, Hsi-Peng & Cheng, Hsiang-Ling & Tzou, Jen-Chuen & Chen, Chiao-Shan, 2023. "Technology roadmap of AI applications in the retail industry," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    19. Ana Carla Magalhães Nascimento & Nathália de Kassia Galdino Oliveira & Verônica de Menezes Nascimento Nagata & Reimison Moreira Fernandes & Vitor William Batista Martins, 2023. "Validation of Challenges for the Development of the Marketing Plan for Startups Considering the Post-COVID-19 Reality: An Exploratory Analysis of the Brazilian Context Using Lawshe’s Method," FinTech, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-12, August.
    20. Elnahass, Marwa & Trinh, Vu Quang & Li, Teng, 2021. "Global banking stability in the shadow of Covid-19 outbreak," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agent-based model; Indoor infection spreading; Checkout zone architecture; Decision support; COVID-19; NetLogo;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C15 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Statistical Simulation Methods: General
    • C63 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computational Techniques
    • L81 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Retail and Wholesale Trade; e-Commerce

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:ahh:wpaper:worms2105. 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: Anna Kowalska-Pyzalska (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/kbpwrpl.html .

    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.