Towards Smart and Sustainable Last Mile Delivery Systems: A Scoping Review and Conceptual Framework

The accelerated growth of e-commerce and ongoing urban expansion have intensified the challenges associated with last-mile delivery, making it a critical issue in sustainable urban logistics. Therefore, our paper presents a scoping review to systematically delineate the current state of research on smart and sustainable last-mile delivery systems. We explore both innovative technologies—such as artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, the Internet of Things, and digital twins—and human-centered dimensions, including urban design, policy development, and collaborative stakeholder engagement. Using the PRISMA-ScR-based methodology, 140 peer-reviewed articles (2015–2025) have been analyzed to highlight key trends, gaps, and prospective directions. The study underlines how the technologies of Industry 4.0 have improved visibility and operational efficiency, but holistic thinking that incorporates environmental, human, and policy factors remains undeveloped. Based on these findings, this article provides a conceptual framework for smart and sustainable last-mile delivery, focusing on the intersection of digital and simulation tools and human-centric governance to achieve optimized efficiency, environmental performance, and equity. This framework helps both academics and decision-makers to advance data-driven, resilient, and integrative city logistic ecosystems.