LAST MILE DELIVERY: MODELLING OF CRITICAL FACTORS USING RANKING APPROACH

ABSTRACT: Last Mile Delivery (LMD) represents the most complex and cost-intensive segment of the supply chain, particularly within the Business-to-Consumer (B2C) sector. The rapid growth of e-commerce has escalated consumer demands for faster, flexible, and convenient deliveries. However, inefficiencies such as delivery failures, small order volumes, traffic congestion, and environmental concerns make LMD a persistent logistical challenge. Industry 4.0 technologies—such as Big Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, and Automation—offer transformative solutions for optimizing LMD operations. Nevertheless, adoption remains limited due to technical, financial, and operational barriers. This study adopts a ranking-based analytical approach to critically examine and prioritize the obstacles hindering Industry 4.0 integration in LMD. Addressing these barriers is crucial for enhancing logistics efficiency, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. Furthermore, the research outlines key areas for future investigation, offering strategic insights for stakeholders aiming to advance digital transformation in logistics.