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Co-Creating Last-Mile Solutions: Insights from Flanders’ GREEN-LOG Workshop

Flanders, Belgium – In a collaborative effort to revolutionise urban logistics, stakeholders from Ghent, Mechelen and Leuven, convened for the GREEN-LOG Co-Creation Workshop held in Flanders, Belgium, on 6 and 9 February 2024. Facilitated within the framework of the GREEN-LOG project, the workshop looked into crucial discussions surrounding the added value and value proposition of sustainable logistics solutions for urban environments in the Region.

The workshop started with an insightful exploration of the specific benefits and advantages expected from the implementation of the proposed solution in the Flanders Living Lab – the development of a Logistics as a Service (LaaS) platform in the above-mentioned cities.

The future LaaS platform is seen as a key solution for managing the complex landscape of urban logistics. LaaS not only offers a platform for stakeholder collaboration but also facilitates transparent communication, dynamic pricing, and nudging strategies. By aligning with local freight policy objectives and considering factors such as delivery speed, price, and quality, LaaS aims to improve accessibility, profitability, and efficiency while meeting diverse consumer needs.

Stakeholders identified key challenges prevalent in Living Labs, including ensuring accessibility, profitability, and efficiency amidst legislative requirements and logistical complexities. Addressing these challenges head-on, the workshop highlighted the significance of establishing clear regulatory frameworks, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and meeting diverse consumer expectations.

Despite the promising prospects of LaaS, stakeholders acknowledged potential challenges in its adoption. These challenges ranged from logistical hurdles such as varying shipping costs and locker capacity issues to sustainability considerations and hub implementation challenges. Overcoming these challenges necessitates concerted efforts from policymakers, retailers, and residents, emphasising the importance of collaboration and innovation in driving the adoption of sustainable logistics solutions.

To motivate stakeholders to actively participate in the Flemish pilot. The possible benefits for different stakeholder categories were discussed. Because of the LaaS-platform, local shopkeepers and consumers would have more choices between transport methods and more information about the impact of their choices. This allows both to have a more direct influence. For shopkeepers in particular, it would reduce the burden of having a contract with each LSP separately, as it would be consolidated through the LaaS and give them more flexibility as their needs may change over time. For the LSP, it would be an additional way to promote their services and the LaaS could help them win additional business and further increase their load-factor. At the end of each workshop, time was taken to discuss non-financial nudge strategies to convince actors to be part of the LaaS and to choose and evolve towards more sustainable urban logistics, including gamification and communication strategies tailored to each stakeholder category.

As the workshop concluded, stakeholders expressed optimism about the transformative potential of LaaS in reshaping urban logistics ecosystems. With continued collaboration and innovation, GREEN-LOG  aims to pave the way for sustainable and efficient urban logistics solutions, ensuring a greener and more resilient future for cities across Europe.

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