EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: TS/I000275/1
Title: Consumer Choice Portal and Package Consolidation Centre (PPCC)
Principal Investigator: Gregory, Professor Sir M
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Engineering
Organisation: University of Cambridge
Scheme: Technology Programme
Starts: 01 July 2010 Ends: 30 September 2012 Value (£): 121,999
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Information & Knowledge Mgmt Transport Ops & Management
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Transport Systems and Vehicles
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
This project proposes the development of a portal enabling consumer choice in the delivery of packages to the home supported by a packaging consolidation centre pilot, located within a densely populated urban environment. The introduction of a consolidation centre aims to empower the consumer with respect to the delivery method in the last five miles of the package journey, also enables supplies to be consolidated upstream and downstream of the centre. Statistics show that 30% of small packages dispatched to customer homes fail to be delivered first time. Failed deliveries significantly reduce the productivity of the logistics provider and increase congestion and pollution. Consumers are aware that deliveries to their home may fail repeatedly but there exist no mechanisms to engage with the supply chain. In the UK, many courier firms are engaged in multiple drops to the same urban area each day, increasing pollution and congestion with no value added to the consumer. This pilot involves -the development of a portal that provides consumer choice features including packaging type, traceability, time and mode of delivery (e.g. sustainable vehicle solutions)-a local urban consolidation centre, open 24x7, providing opportunities for easy access for consumers, consolidation opportunities for primary suppliers and last mile couriers where packages are required to be delivered to the home, and facilities to minimize packaging at source and optimize recyclingThe novelty lies in the front end consumer portal enabling consumer choice, the integrated consolidation centre and in the delivery network involving key stakeholders in the supply chain.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.cam.ac.uk