Spatial–temporal evolution theory and influencing mechanisms of the express delivery network: A case on YTO express in China

As a typical network industry, the express delivery industry has become an essential component of economy and society today. However, due to insufficient theoretical foundations and a lack of data, research on the spatial–temporal evolution and influencing factors of express delivery networks remains relatively limited. This study adopts a social network theory framework to construct mechanisms of spatial–temporal evolution of express delivery networks. It identifies that express delivery networks tend to form a “core–periphery” structure, where development occurs first in economically advanced and geographically accessible regions, with regional core nodes serving as hubs that connect sub-networks. Using internal datasets from YTO Express for 2013 and 2017, we construct a directed weighted network to examine the spatial structure and evolution characteristics of China’s express delivery network. Additionally, we explore the influencing factors from the perspectives of both edges and nodes in the demand and supply networks. The results show that the YTO Express network exhibits a clear east–west distribution pattern, with dense concentrations in the east and sparse distributions in the west, aligning with the small-world phenomenon. In terms of spatial dimension, the network shows a trend of fragmentation transitioning towards aggregation, while in temporal terms, it evolves from inefficiency to efficiency. Key factors influencing network node attributes include the development of the internet, economic growth, transportation, and geographical factors. The development of the express network is closely related to the economic correlation network, and both of them have a positive influence on each other, while the economic correlation network has a more obvious promotion effect on the express network. Finally, we propose optimizing transportation routes, increasing regional hub nodes, and combining express network design with e-commerce warehouse distribution.