Online Shopping and Mobility: Exploring the Determinants of Final Delivery Solutions by French Households

Households are more and more buying online and using various delivery solutions, between home deliveries and out-of-home collecting points (pick-up point or food drive). Based on a questionnaire survey of 593 households in France, our article aims to better understand the determinants of online shopping practices, considering the nature of the goods purchased (food or non-food) as well as the collection methods chosen. Our paper aims at refine the innovation and efficiency hypothesis of the geographical distribution of online shopping uses and mobilities. Beyond the usual socio-demographic determinants, it appears that geographical location doesn't impact the intensity of online purchases but the choice of a particular delivery method. In fact, the choice of home delivery is more likely to be made by households that live or consider living in less densely populated areas with fewer shops. Conversely, the choice of a relay point is more likely to be made by households living in towns and cities or in areas they consider to be well equipped. Thus, in dense areas, the online purchase of material goods would generate logistical trips for households, whereas in less dense areas, households would more easily delegate these same trips to a logistics provider.