From traditional to innovative e-delivery: a thematic literature review

The rapid growth of e-commerce has significantly changed end-consumer behaviour, making online purchasing increasingly convenient and accessible. Among the various components of the e-commerce system, delivery services have become particularly critical, as they directly influence end-consumer satisfaction and operational efficiency. Although delivery is often considered as secondary factor in the purchasing decision process, transport operators are increasingly focused on minimising costs while meeting growing service expectations. In response to this phenomenon, innovative delivery channels have emerged, such as autonomous parcel lockers, crowdshipping, and autonomous delivery robots, which are constantly being developed. However, the effectiveness and sustainability of the delivery system that incorporates new delivery channels remain inconsistent, particularly in urban areas, where freight transport faces numerous challenges. Given this complex and evolving landscape, a thematic literature review is essential to synthesise existing knowledge, identify key trends, highlight research gaps, and outline future directions. This study makes a contribution to the debate on urban freight innovation by critically examining the current state-of-the-art in the growing e-commerce context.