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Flexible supply-demand matching mechanism for C2B crowdsourcing logistics platforms with heterogeneous environment-inclined merchants

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Abstract

Customer-to-Business (C2B) crowdsourcing logistics presents a viable solution to the last-mile delivery problem in e-retailing, offering new prospects for sustainable supply chains. In response to this trend, some digital online platforms have introduced eco-friendly delivery vehicles and launched green delivery services. However, merchants on the demand side often exhibit heterogeneous environmental inclinations, significantly affecting their preferences and choices for delivery vehicle types. To address this, this paper proposes a novel dual-system design comprising two parallel and independent matching systems, aiming to accommodate merchants’ diverse preferences through a flexible supply-demand matching mechanism. We subsequently develop a supply allocation optimization model for the platform based on queuing analysis and derive the optimal driver allocation strategy that maximizes platform profitability. A key finding is that market and individual environmental awareness exert opposite effects on the platform’s optimal allocation decision. Our proposed dual-system design achieves a harmonious balance between reducing carbon emissions and enhancing profitability, resulting in a 13.3% reduction in platform carbon emissions and a 17.7% increase in profits in the baseline scenario. Interestingly, government environmental propaganda may not necessarily contribute to reducing platform carbon emissions unless complementary measures are implemented to control excessive environmental premiums associated with green delivery vehicles. Our study provides valuable insights for promoting the behavioral operations management of crowdsourcing logistics platforms.

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Notes

  1. For details, see at https://sf-cityrush.com/.

  2. For details, see at https://www.imdada.cn/.

  3. For details, see at http://www.ishansong.com/.

  4. SF Intra-city: 2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance Report. For detailed information, refer to https://ir.sf-cityrush.com/media/gycg2m3w/cn2022esg.pdf.

  5. For details, see at https://sf-cityrush.com/about/.

  6. Bank of Communications International: Instant Retail has Doubled in Space, Third-Party Instant Delivery Seizes Market Share; First Buy Ratings for SF Intra-city and Dada Express. For details, see at https://www.doc88.com/p-79099228517117.html.

  7. Huachuang Securities: Grasp the ’Double Dividend’ and Achieve High Growth—Decoding the Series of Shunfeng. For details, see at https://www.doc88.com/p-73673252474551.html?r=1.

  8. LeadLeo: 2022 China Instant Delivery Industry Research. For details, see at https://pdf.dfcfw.com/pdf/H3_AP202302141583147240_1.pdf?1676404577000.pdf.

  9. For details, see at https://www.sf-cityrush.com/.

  10. China Automotive Technology and Research Centre: China Automotive Low Carbon Action Plan Research Report 2021. For details, see details at http://www.catarc.info/news/11514.cshtml.

  11. China Chain Store & Franchise Association: China Instant Retail Development Report 2022. For details, see at http://www.ccfa.org.cn/portal/cn/xiangxi.jsp?id=444050 &type=33.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the generous financial support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (72374187, 72104034), Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by SAST (20240123), Humanities and Social Science Fund of Ministry of Education of China (21YJC630037, 22XJC910001), Science and Technology Planning Project of Shaanxi Province, China (2024JC-YBMS-595), USTC Research Funds of the Double First-Class Initiative (YD2160002002), and Carbon Neutral Science and Technology Foundation of University of Science and Technology of China (YD2040002016).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, People’s Republic of China

    Shanyong Wang & Shiqiang Li

  2. School of Economics and Management, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710064, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China

    Haonan He & Qi Zhou

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  1. Shanyong Wang
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Correspondence to Haonan He.

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Wang, S., Li, S., He, H. et al. Flexible supply-demand matching mechanism for C2B crowdsourcing logistics platforms with heterogeneous environment-inclined merchants. Ann Oper Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-024-05977-8

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