LAST-MILE DELIVERY - A CHALLENGING OPPORTUNITY FOR SMES: MANAGERIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS

Cities are expanding and becoming more populated. Citizens are becoming increasingly demanding in meeting their needs. Retail must constantly adapt to new client requirements. As a result, last-mile delivery is becoming more complex and requires new methods and innovative solutions. SMEs are becoming increasingly significant participants in the logistics chain. Transformation of last-mile delivery provides them with new development opportunities. After a short consideration of the current situation and forecasting future needs in logistics, the article detailly analyzes the importance of SMEs and the importance of modern last-mile delivery. In the second chapter, the authors analyzed modern e-commerce through the opportunities for SMEs participating in the global market and logistics chains and the challenges SMEs face. Specific attention the authors paid to the analysis of security and financing, which can be considered the most critical factors in the participation of SMEs in last-mile delivery. Some of the most common innovative logistics solutions and the need for legal regulations are analyzed below. Based on the analyses carried out in the work, in the Conclusions chapter, the conclusions reached by the authors are systematized and presented with suggestions for the continuation of the research.