Purpose-Given the progressive growth of e-commerce sales and the rising interest in omni-channel (OC) retailing amongst academics and practitioners, the aim of this study is to provide an up-to-date literature review on the logistics involved when moving towards OC retailing. Specifically, we have examined the main issues relating to e-fulfilment and distribution, highlighting how the topic has been developed over time, and identifying the most promising research streams for the near future. Design/methodology/approach-A Systematic Literature Review methodology is adopted. The review is based on 58 papers published from 2002 to 2017 in 34 international journals. The papers were analysed and categorised according to their defining characteristics, methodologies adopted and themes addressed. Findings-This paper provides an overview of the main issues relating to e-fulfilment and distribution experienced by companies shifting towards OC, mapped along three dimensions: distribution network design, inventory and capacity management, delivery planning and execution. Despite the growing interest in OC retailing, many key topics are still under-represented, including the evolution of retail distribution networks, assortment planning over multiple channels, the logistics role played by stores in the delivery process and the interplay between different logistics aspects. Originality/value-The paper offers insights into the main logistics issues in MC and OC retailing, as well as highlights potential fields for further investigation. From a managerial perspective, this paper is useful for retailers adopting an OC approach to guide their future efforts concerning their business logistics model.

Purpose-Companies are currently moving from multi-channel (MC) strategies to offer their customers an omni-channel (OC) experience. So far, OC research has been mainly tackled from a sales-based view, with numerous operational challenges to be fully investigated yet. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how companies set the logistics variables in their OC management strategy and the business logistics models currently most adopted. Design/methodology/approach-A two-step methodology was adopted. First, a systematic combining approach with scientific literature review and case studies allowed to derive a framework for classifying the key logistics variables and the related options. The framework was then used to conduct a qualitative survey targeting 92 Italian companies operating in food manufacturing, food retailing and non-food retailing. Collected data were analysed by means of cluster analysis. Findings-Implementing an OC management strategy requires to set eleven logistics variables belonging to four strategic areas: delivery service, distribution setting, fulfilment strategy, returns management. A broad empirical investigation showed the choices made by companies when setting the logistics variables to implement an OC management strategy. Lastly, four business logistics models, differing in terms of both business sector and OC maturity, were discussed. Originality/value-The proposed framework extends earlier studies by including additional significant logistics variables. The empirical analysis provides new insights on how to restructure the business logistics model in OC, suggesting channel integration and the coexistence of multiple configurations as main enablers of an OC proposition.

In today's competitive scenario of increasingly faster deliveries and smaller order sizes, material handling providers are progressively developing new solutions. A recent solution consists in Autonomous Vehicle Storage and Retrieval System (AVS/RS). The present paper presents an analytical model to estimate the performances (i.e. transaction cycle time and waiting times) of AVS/RS for product tote movement. The model is based on an open queuing network approach. The model effectiveness in performance estimation is validated through simulation.

In today's competitive environment with increasingly faster deliveries and smaller order sizes, material handling providers are progressively developing new solutions. A more recent development in automated material-handling technology for unit load storage and retrieval is the autonomous vehicle storage and retrieval system (AVS/RS). The paper investigates the main design trade-offs for this new solution using simulation, and proposes a comprehensive design framework. Using data from a recently implemented AVS/RS, the application of the proposed framework is presented and the key design differences between the two types of AVS/RS configuration (i.e. "tier captive" versus "tier to tier") are identified.

Abstract:Internationalisation has increasingly become a strategic issue for companies. Ample evidence confirms the key role of logistics in supporting the company internationalisation process, especially in today's context characterised by growing demand in speed and flexibility. Setting the logistics strategy in line with corporate objectives for each export area over time is crucial and represents a challenge for logistics directors worldwide. The aim of this paper is to address this gap by providing empirical-based evidence on how the international logistics strategy should be shaped accordingly with company internationalisation choices. The research is based on case studies with a sample of 14 exports areas of six companies. Results offer a new approach with respect to previous contributions that studied specific logistics issues separately. From a practical viewpoint, managers can benefit from a full picture of both the variables to be set up and the potential alternatives to be selected when designing the international logistics strategy.

Shuttle-based compact systems are new automated multi-deep unit-load storage systems with lifts that can potentially achieve both low operational cost and large volume flexibility. In this paper, we develop novel queuing network models to estimate the performance of both single-tier and multi-tier shuttle-based compact systems. Each tier is modeled as a multiclass semi-open queuing network, whereas the vertical transfer is modeled using an open queue. For a multi-tier system, the models corresponding to tiers and vertical transfer are linked together using the first and second moment information of the queue departure processes. The models can handle both specialized and generic shuttles, and both continuous and discrete lifts. The accuracy of the models is validated through both simulation and a real case. Errors are acceptable for conceptualizing initial designs. Numerical studies provide new design insights. Results show that the best way to minimize expected throughput time in single-tier systems is to have a depth/width ratio around 1.25. Moreover, specialized shuttles are recommended for multi-tier systems because the higher cost of generic shuttles is not balanced by savings in reduced throughput time and equipment needs.

The Third-party Logistics (3PL) industry is facing both important growth\ud rates and increasing competitive pressure. 3PL providers are required to\ud continuously sustain a more and more competitive cost structure (i.e.\ud efficiency) and develop capabilities to improve their services (i.e.\ud innovation); hence, the evaluation of these key success factors is\ud considered a key issue. This paper develops a quantitative analysis of 71\ud Italian 3PL providers by using Data Envelopment Analysis to jointly\ud assess efficiency and innovation. Furthermore, through a case study\ud research, it corroborates the quantitative results by investigating the\ud strategies of best-in-class companies. Results allowed identifying 13 3PL\ud providers as efficiency leaders and 6 as leaders from both the efficiency\ud and the innovation side. Their input composition indicates a\ud diversification of the business models. A breakdown of the analysis by\ud size and industry focus, along with empirical evidence on the strategies\ud enhancing efficiency and innovation, is also provided

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