Literature review: Efficiency, environment and robotization in first and last mile logistics

Efficiency of first and last mile transportation is a vital task that significantly contributes competitiveness of entire supply chain. Conducting systematic literature review is a first step in identifying imperfections and areas in need of further investigation. There is need to perform a comprehensive review of first and last mile activities, also including sustainability and green logistics aspects, as well as integration of autonomous robots into first and last-mile logistics for enhancing delivery efficiency and reducing operational costs, since these topics are becoming crucial. The aim of this study is to identify contemporary thematic groups related to first and last mile logistics and identify major gaps that require further investigation. In result, a research design was developed with specific selection of literature list, based on correlation analysis. Mapping of literature metrics was conducted with the purpose to identify research gaps and emerging trends. Eventually, major thematic groups of literature were created, and interconnections between them were investigated, allowing to discover multi-disciplinarity of first and last mile logistics studies.