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Methodological advances in online food delivery: A systematic review, taxonomy, and research outlook

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  • Tavasoli, Mohammadamin
  • Baldacci, Roberto
  • Kayvanfar, Vahid
  • Zhang, Yu
  • Triki, Chefi
  • Elomri, Adel

Abstract

Since the platformization of restaurant delivery, Online Food Delivery (OFD) has expanded rapidly, intensifying competition, compressing margins, and amplifying operational complexity. As in other transportation domains, Operation Research (OR) provides the methodological backbone for structuring and optimizing the Food Delivery Service (FDS). The literature on OFD optimization is now flourishing, while emerging technologies create new challenges and modeling requirements. This article presents a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of quantitative OFD research and offers a coherent reference for scholars and practitioners. We introduce a multidimensional classification that organizes the field by decision level, problem setting, and analytical approach, and we formalize a methodology that maps real-world OFD complexities into precise OR problem components, enabling consistent categorization and comparison. We also curate standardized tabular and visual summaries to support transparent description, benchmarking, and reproducibility. Finally, we articulate open research areas and corresponding directions to guide subsequent work.

Suggested Citation

  • Tavasoli, Mohammadamin & Baldacci, Roberto & Kayvanfar, Vahid & Zhang, Yu & Triki, Chefi & Elomri, Adel, 2026. "Methodological advances in online food delivery: A systematic review, taxonomy, and research outlook," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transe:v:213:y:2026:i:c:s136655452600311x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tre.2026.104972
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