Vehicle Routing Problem Research and the Quick Commerce Gap: A Bibliometric Analysis of Scopus Literature, 2011 to 2026

The Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) is one of the most studied problems in operations research, yet it is unclear whether research has followed the rise of quick commerce and hyperlocal delivery. This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of VRP literature indexed in Scopus. Records were retrieved on 16 September 2026 using the terms vehicle routing, optimization and heuristics, screened under the PRISMA framework, and reduced from 4,364 records to 2,559 English-language journal articles and reviews published from 2011 onwards. The data were analysed with Biblioshiny, VOSviewer and Tableau. Output grew at an annual rate of 14.51%, from 41 documents in 2011 to 313 in 2026, with 3.48 authors per document and 31.62% international co-authorship. Authorship follows a generalised Lotka pattern, sources follow Bradford's Law closely, and China leads in output ahead of the USA and India. Keyword analysis shows core VRP methodology terms far outnumbering last-mile delivery, while quick commerce and hyperlocal delivery barely appear. An input-process-output analysis shows that solution methods receive more attention than service and fairness outcomes. The paper sets out research questions on quick commerce, drone delivery, sustainability trade-offs and emerging-market settings, and discusses implications for theory, management, policy and society.