DECEMBER 4, 2018 — The Urban Freight Lab hosted its second annual Tech Day: Technological Disruption and Innovation in Last-Mile Delivery on December 3, 2018, bringing four innovators and entrepreneurs working on last-mile delivery solutions together with Urban Freight Lab members (retailers, freight carriers, University of Washington researchers, and the City of Seattle Department of Transportation), and a panel of venture capitalists and angel investors.
Four finalists were selected to showcase their solutions, ranging from concept/prototype to implementation: Cleverciti, Havyn, Parkunload, and Udelv.
To evaluate emerging technologies’ abilities to reach project goals, Tech Day participants bring a wide range of perspectives to rate the feasibility, business application, and market potential of early stage technologies to solve customer problems in the Final 50 Feet.
The Final 50 Feet Problem
Global logistics spending is expected to reach $10.6 trillion in 2020, with transportation accounting for the majority (70%), according to “Urban Logistics Opportunities—Last-Mile Innovation” by Frost & Sullivan.” About 40% of the overall logistics costs are associated with the last mile, forcing providers to come up with newer innovative solutions to deliver packages within cities.
Our suite of Final 50 Feet of research projects looks at methods to improve delivery at the end of the supply chain—beginning at the city-owned curb, commercial vehicle load zone, or sidewalk; extending through privately-owned building freight bays; and ending in the common areas within a building such as the lobby.
About the Urban Freight Lab (UFL): An innovative public-private partnership housed at the Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics Center at the University of Washington, the Urban Freight Lab is a structured workgroup that brings together private industry with City transportation officials to design and test solutions around urban freight management.
About the Final 50 Feet Research Program: The Urban Freight Lab’s Final 50 Feet research program designs and tests solutions to improve delivery at the end of the supply chain—beginning at a load/unload parking space at the curb, in an alley, or in a private loading bay, and maneuvering through sidewalks, intersections, and building security, and ending when the customer takes possession.