Micro-depots are a shared logistics facility. This means that providing support for efficient transport of goods and pickup and delivery is its main raison d’être. Taking into consideration the high density of urban areas and the struggle for resources, however, this deliverable aims to expand the functionality of micro-depots by identifying potential auxiliary business models that can operate simultaneously at the same location and bring more added value to city residents and businesses alike.Particularly, from the business point of view, the shared micro-depot network may foster innovation by the implementation of new technologies or new operations, as well as reduce costs,given that resources would be shared.
We propose a framework to categorize possible auxiliary business models to serve as a guide to municipalities and companies interested in implanting and using the shared micro-depots network. As we see it, there are two main types of possible auxiliary businesses. The first involves services that are currently widely available, but that can utilize the micro-depot structure to facilitate these services either in terms of timeliness or cost effectiveness.The second depends heavily on the network structure and the consolidated services to become viable and attractive to the customer.
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