Cylologistics and light vehicles for sustainable and efficient urban distribution
Last-mile logistics is the final stretch of the distribution chain; it connects the consolidation point with the final recipient and, paradoxically, is the most expensive, slowest, and has the greatest impact on urban space. It represents between 30% and 50% of the total logistic cost of an operation, and is responsible for a growing portion of congestion and emissions in cities, driven by the acceleration of e-commerce and the increase in immediate delivery expectations.
The conventional response of more vans, more trips, and more speed is no longer viable. Low-emission zones, access restrictions to urban centers, and the decarbonization objectives of the Sustainable Mobility Law are redefining the rules of the game for all operators involved in urban goods distribution.
Cylologistics and low-impact light vehicles are not a marginal alternative: in dense urban environments, electric cargo bikes and micromobility goods vehicles can be faster, more economical, and significantly less polluting than conventional vans.
However, deploying them efficiently requires design: demand analysis, adequate infrastructure, and a management model adapted to the territory.
So many delivery vans don’t fit in the city of the future
From VAIC Mobility, a mobility consultancy, we help you design a last-mile logistics service from demand analysis to implementation plan, including infrastructure sizing and operational model definition.
What is last-mile logistics and why is it necessary to design it?
Last-mile logistics encompasses all distribution operations that occur within the urban fabric from a point of entry or consolidation to the final recipient: businesses, offices, individuals, or public facilities.
Unlike previous stages of the logistics chain, the last mile operates in an environment characterized by high density, limited space, multiple recipients, and increasing regulatory restrictions. The result, without adequate planning, is a proliferation of delivery vehicles congesting streets, improperly occupying public space, and emitting pollutants in areas where air quality is particularly critical.
Intelligent urban freight logistics based on cycling logistics and light vehicles is today one of the solutions with the best cost-efficiency-impact ratio for distribution in dense urban environments. However, its successful deployment depends on rigorous service design: without adequate demand analysis or correctly sized and located last-mile facilities, the operation quickly loses competitiveness.
How we work on last-mile delivery design
At VAIC Mobility, we design last-mile delivery services from initial demand analysis to defining the operational and management model, including the sizing and location of the necessary infrastructure.
The objective is to define a viable, competitive, and scalable service that allows logistics operators and public administrations to deploy sustainable alternatives to conventional vans, with guarantees of profitability and service quality.
The design considers services operated by private courier and parcel companies, as well as public or public-private management models focused on the consolidation and collaborative distribution of goods.
