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The distribution network of Amazon and the footprint of freight digitalization

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  • Rodrigue, Jean-Paul

Abstract

The emergence of e-commerce as a dominant retail paradigm is associated with a rapid shift in the commercial footprint towards distributional-based consumption. Through the analysis of the geographical expansion, market coverage, and functional specialization of Amazon's distribution network, the research underlines that digitalization has a pronounced physicality. E-commerce is favoring a transition from the conventional retail freight landscape towards a new physicality of freight distributions involving purpose-designed facilities, modes, and channels. The case of Amazon underlines a consistent locational behavior to achieve a distributional hierarchy of facilities granting logistical access to consumer markets. The distributional hierarchy is organized in three stages, which are procurement and fulfillment, distribution, and last-mile.

Suggested Citation

  • Rodrigue, Jean-Paul, 2020. "The distribution network of Amazon and the footprint of freight digitalization," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:88:y:2020:i:c:s0966692320306074
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2020.102825
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    Cited by:

    1. Schaefer, Jaclyn S. & Figliozzi, Miguel A., 2021. "Spatial accessibility and equity analysis of Amazon parcel lockers facilities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    2. Limon Barua & Bo Zou & Yan Zhou & Yulin Liu, 2023. "Modeling household online shopping demand in the U.S.: a machine learning approach and comparative investigation between 2009 and 2017," Transportation, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 437-476, April.
    3. Marisol Valencia Cárdenas & Mayerlin Roldán Sepúlveda & Diego Alejandro López Cadavid & Jorge Anibal Restrepo Morales & Juan Gabriel Vanegas López, 2022. "Omnicanalidad como estrategia competitiva: una revisión conceptual y dimensional," Estudios Gerenciales, Universidad Icesi, vol. 38(164), pages 370-384, September.
    4. Kang, Sanggyun, 2022. "Exploring the contextual factors behind various phases in logistics sprawl: The case of Seoul Metropolitan Area, South Korea," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    5. Paulina Golinska-Dawson & Karolina Werner-Lewandowska & Karolina Kolinska & Adam Kolinski, 2023. "Impact of Market Drivers on the Digital Maturity of Logistics Processes in a Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-19, February.
    6. David Guerrero & Jean Paul Hubert & Martin Koning & Nicolas Roelandt, 2022. "On the Spatial Scope of Warehouse Activity: An Exploratory Study in France," Post-Print hal-03551270, HAL.
    7. Guerrero, D. & Hubert, J.-P. & Koning, M. & Roelandt, N., 2022. "On the spatial scope of warehouse activity: An exploratory study in France," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    8. Lázaro Florido-Benítez, 2023. "The Role of the Top 50 US Cargo Airports and 25 Air Cargo Airlines in the Logistics of E-Commerce Companies," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-27, February.
    9. Buldeo Rai, Heleen & Kang, Sanggyun & Sakai, Takanori & Tejada, Carla & Yuan, Quan (Jack) & Conway, Alison & Dablanc, Laetitia, 2022. "‘Proximity logistics’: Characterizing the development of logistics facilities in dense, mixed-use urban areas around the world," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 41-61.
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    11. Sina Hardaker, 2022. "More Than Infrastructure Providers – Digital Platforms' Role and Power in Retail Digitalisation in Germany," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 113(3), pages 310-328, July.
    12. C. Sillig & G. Marletto, 2022. "Global influence and national diversity in socio-technical transitions: a sectoral taxonomy," Working Paper CRENoS 202203, Centre for North South Economic Research, University of Cagliari and Sassari, Sardinia.
    13. Christopher Findlay & Hein Roelfsema & Niall Van De Wouw, 2021. "Feeling the Pulse of Global Value Chains: Air Cargo and COVID-19," Working Papers DP-2021-23, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).

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