Alternatives for solving the 'last mile' logistic problem

Research
1

OFN Community,

Following the discussion from the Hub Logistics topic.

I was looking for alternatives to solve the ‘last mile’ problem. In my context, there are not good services to deliver food from hubs to consumers (not to mention the producers-consumers side, which is worse). Most of them are just people with a motorcycle with limited organization and structure. On the other side, there are some medium/large delivery business but there are not flexible enough to work with the OFN model (they are focused to serve fast-food restaurants).

That’s why I was looking for some descentralized, flexible, scalable and collaborative solutions. Here is what I found:

  • LibreTaxi (http://libretaxi.org/): This is a Telegram bot which is a “Free and open source alternative to Uber/Lyft connecting passengers and drivers.” It’s not thought to be a delivery tool but the model is very similiar (basically, just change “passenger” with “package”). There are some commercial system which work with the same collaborative way: https://www.instacart.com/, https://www.deliv.co/fresh/, https://postmates.com/
  • La’Zooz (http://lazooz.org/): It’s a “A Decentralized Transportation Platform owned by the community and utilising vehicles’ unused space to create a variety of smart transportation solutions. By using cryptocurrency technology La’Zooz works with a “Fair Share” rewarding mechanism for developers, users and backers.” I don’t know the state of the project, wheater they are working or not. Similar commercial alternative: https://cartaxi.io/
  • CoopCycle (https://coopcycle.org): “CoopCycle is a delivery platform for worker-owned coops”. A very special aspect of this platform is that it’s in a Peer Production License in which “you have to organize as a worker-owned co-op to run it”.
  • Common Routes (http://routes.fair.coop/): A FairCoop’s project which is “an application to rationalize the use of our cars and so reduce their environmental impact.” It also has an option to transport packages: “If you need to send packages to a certain destination, you can fill out the form to publish your need and ask for transportation.”

I found this interesting to share, hopping it’s useful to build solutions around this problem. Please, feel free to share some thoughts, experiences, approaches, tools or models.

@CynthiaReynolds @tschumilas maybe of interest for you

2

A worthwhile exploration. Physical logistics are often the main challenge. Software can make it easier but in the end of the day it’s the cost of transport that will make or break any food distribution business.

3

That’s right @Oliver,

In the case we have eficient logistic systems (like buying groups or very low food miles), the problem is much simpler to solve so we don’t need any aditional software.

The problem comes when we don’t have that level of organization. For example, there are many food artisans or food hubs who are in the city context, have permantly-open order cycles and very limited delivery services. In these conditions, the need for a better way to organize logistic is real and software can make its place here, making the distribution more eficient, simple and easy, like OFN did in food system.

Of course, software is not the only way to solve this problem. This disccusion is not closed to other approaches. Feel free to share any other alternatives you know.

Thanks