After some years of e-commerce it is established that the e-commerce success is dependent on an effective distribution system and also of a system which can take back not wanted products (for reuse). This paper is based on two investigations; one treating the e-commerce distribution systems and the other re-distribution systems. The results indicate that it is the established companies who are most successful in creating e-commerce distribution systems, even if they have much more to develop. Hardly any company has developed a re-distribution system which is satisfactory. This is a field where transport researchers can develop models for new concepts. For the covering abstract see ITRD E124693.
Abstract