Large-scale coordinated home deliveries
The coronavirus crisis has led to nationwide demand for home deliveries from people who are in at-risk groups or who are self-isolating. The “Large-scale coordinated home deliveries” project has set up an environmentally friendly, cost-effective distribution chain to deliver food, cooked meals, medicines and parcels to the homes of people in isolation.
Purpose and objective
The purpose is to automate the processes from purchasing food at the supermarket to delivery to customers in at-risk groups in a cold chain that keeps food safe and uses ordinary cars, such as taxis. By coordinating existing transport solutions and requirements, it is possible to create a sustainable and efficient transport system. Food from local restaurants is also included in the service because the demand is there and the hospitality industry has been hard hit by the crisis. The objective of the project is to set up an effective, scalable, automated solution that also covers sparsely populated rural areas and will continue after the coronavirus crisis.
Expected effects and results
The solution was launched with five stores to make sure that it functioned correctly and included the partners and the plan for large-scale implementation. The expected results are the distribution of food using a scalable process and the efficient use of existing vehicles with a significant reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The expected effect is a new large-scale, long-term form of distribution that is cost-effective because it is based on a unique form of cooperation and an automated system. Other effects include creating local jobs and providing a beneficial social service.
Planned organisation and implementation
The project includes three innovations which will be tested and implemented:
- Development of a system for coordinating deliveries with route planning involving stores/restaurants (including food delivery), parcel services, transport providers (taxis, etc.) and end customers.
- Development of a system for automated payments involving customers, stores and transport providers and including different payment solutions.
- An uninterrupted cold chain that meets requirements and customers’ expectations using a unique box for mass deliveries in ordinary cars.
Background
In the spring of 2020 Vinnova issued a call for innovative ideas to address the wider impact of the coronavirus crisis. The aim is to introduce innovations that will overcome the challenges and make the most of the opportunities that society is now faced with.
