The growth of E-shopping creates the need for efficient and modestly primed distribution solutions. It is investigated whether "takuhaibin style" distribution systems can offer solutions for the challenges of E-business logistics. Takuhaibin, or "home delivery service", is highly popular in Japan. Every year, nearly 2 billion parcels are sent in Japan - more than 15 per inhabitant and year. Yamato Unyu, the company that had invented and developed the first system in the mid-1970s under the brand name "Takkyubin", now handles a volume of more than 2 million parcels per day. In contrast to the well-known international actors like UPS, Federal Express, DHL or TNT, the Japanese takuhaibin companies have a strong focus on the private customer. In the paper, it is assessed how the logistics of the several competing takuhaibin systems work, looking at the advantages (high service levels; "convenience" offered to its private and commercial users throughout Japan) and apparent shortcomings (environmental and traffic problems arising from the increasing fleets of delivery vehicles). Whereas in other countries the logistics of distributing efficiently to private customers appears to be a major factor delimiting growth and profitability of E-businesses, Japan looks well prepared on that front. Therefore, in a concluding step, it is analysed whether the takuhaibin approach as such, or which of its elements, appear to be transferable to other countries and markets with different business environments.
Abstract