Analysing micrologistics initiatives in rural areas – Approaches to typologise and assess complex logistics solutions in regional supply networks

While demand for regional products increases and societal expectations towards a regionalisation of production are on the rise in Germany, little attention is given to the logistical challenges of local producers. At the same time, rural areas are confronted with declining supply options for goods of daily needs. Logistical challenges in rural areas are primarily caused by a scarcity of actors, low or fluctuating quantities of goods and long transport distances. A lack of economies of scale makes supply and logistics very costly. Given the rising interest and new possibilities created by digitisation, numerous private and public initiatives are developing solutions for sustainable regional logistics to secure and improve supply in rural areas - so called micrologistics solution. However, a meta-analysis of such regional logistics solutions is missing that identifies similarities and differences and indicates which characteristics are essential for the development of long-term viable regional logistics solutions.

This article therefore aims at providing a general overview and at systematising current micrologistics solutions in rural regions, introducing a typology which is based on a meta-analysis of approximately 80 micrologistics initiatives in Germany and beyond. Referring to two case studies – Smart Village St. Wendel and UCKER Warentakt - we then focus analysis on solutions aiming at providing goods of daily need to the population in rural areas. We share lessons learnt on their characteristics, challenges and factors of success. This is done using a specifically developed morphological box, a viability and impact-oriented assessment framework for micrologistics initiatives as well as results of interviews with initiators and operators of such initiatives. We conclude on the usefulness of the analytical approaches developed for this new research field as well as further research needs.