LEAD Project: Towards Sustainable Urban Logistics

In the logistic argot, last mile is the final stage in a delivery process. Where goods are transported from a distribution centre to the end user's location. It is crucial because it impacts directly on customer’s satisfaction and can be the most challenging and expensive part. In this growing field, LEAD aimed to create Digital Twins of urban logistics networks in six TEN-T urban nodes (Madrid, The Hague, Lyon, Budapest, Oslo, Porto) to support experimentation and decision-making in on-demand logistics operations within a public-private urban setting.

The project presents city logistics solutions through a series of value case scenarios addressing the requirements of the on-demand economy and the challenges arising from the increased volume of parcel deliveries. These scenarios align competing interests and create value for all stakeholders involved. Each value case incorporates a set of measures known as LEAD Strategies, encompassing the complexities and dynamics of a city's logistics challenges.

LEAD has achieved several results ranging from academic research pieces to technological assets. One of the innovative results of LEAD, where the Last Mile Team, the Technical Partner of Madrid Living Lab, has successfully developed a centralised digital platform enabling logistics providers, businesses, and city officials to design and optimise coordinated delivery routes, schedules, and transportation modes. The platform offers customisable options and services tailored to the specific needs of users, such as selecting sustainable delivery modes like electric vehicles or bikes, and choosing delivery windows that match their schedules. Real-time tracking and notifications are also provided, keeping users informed about the status of their packages and deliveries. The solution is designed to be scalable, allowing for adaptation to the requirements of different cities and regions across the European Union. The proposed solution utilises open-source digital models validated by top academic institutions involved in the Madrid Living Lab.

Several Key Exploitable Results (KERs) have been identified within LEAD, and business plans have been co-created between the exploitation manager and the outcome owners during the project's lifetime. In addition to that, to capitalise on HRB’s expertise, the Last Mile Team has already completed Business Plan Development and is receiving Go to Market services. Requesting these services at the TRL 5 stage is crucial for transitioning a technology from the research phase to a successful commercial product or service. These services provide a structured approach to understanding the market landscape, identifying opportunities, and crafting strategies to maximise the technology's impact and market penetration. They help bridge the gap between technological advancements and real-world applications, setting the stage for a successful commercialisation journey.

Commercial exploitation routes

LEAD outcomes have different exploitation options based on their type. Internet Communication Technology (ICT) platforms and last-mile digital modelling tools will be re-used in the next generation of EU-funded research projects to assist the transition to a greener logistics sector. Other dissemination, training and educational materials (i.e. LEAD Massive Open Online Course) are already being utilised by practitioners in the field. Mature technological assets like Last Mile Team’s technology will follow commercial exploitation routes. As Angel Batalla, LEAD Madrid Living Lab Technical Leader, Founder & CEO of Last Mile Team, states: “HRB's support has been valuable in providing strategic guidance and facilitating initial steps in our journey. While their assistance has primarily focused on strategic input, we appreciate their contributions in shaping our early direction”.

Other activities that the Last Mile Team wants to examine through HRB are engaging first Pilot customer/s for feedback and, constantly monitoring and evaluating scalability and expansion, fostering collaborations with stakeholders, focusing on compliance and quality customer support.

Learn more: https://www.leadproject.eu/

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