For retailers and service providers, the infrastructure and logistics of transportation, particularly in the “last mile,” create many challenges for the delivery of products and services and for employees trying to reach work destinations. On the delivery side, consumers expect faster, more transparent deliveries, with forewarning of precisely when the item will be placed at their door. For employee transportation, individual vehicles exacerbate the very traffic problems that complicate deliveries. In many cities, public transportation systems are not extensive enough to take employees directly to the employer’s door.
These are complex, multifaceted problems with a myriad of technologies, including the promise of AI to power logistics or transportation planning, so where do companies start? In this webinar, we hear from Karina Ricks, Partner at Cityfi; Karen Lightman, Executive Director of Metro 21; and Sarah Fox, faculty at the School of Computer Science, as they discuss the pros and cons of rapidly evolving technologies touted as the next solution for the last mile. We’ll address questions such as:
What is the role of retailers and service providers in supporting innovation in the delivery and public transportation sectors? How can retail and service providers work with local, state, and federal governments to encourage support of technology start-ups in these areas of exploration?
Scooters, bikes, and other short-distance human mobility solutions have complex trade-offs and often create dissatisfaction among community members who do not need these transportation solutions. How can retail and service providers participate in such programs to ensure their employees have these last-mile options?
The panel discussion is followed by a Q & A.