The Impact of E-Commerce on the Supply Chain

This thesis is researching the impact of E-commerce on the supply chain of suppliers, mainly of companies that are distributing packages. The rising trend of E-commerce leads to a changing customer buying behaviour from physical stores to online stores and so creates more demand of the delivery of goods and packages delivered by distributing companies. The more service orientated way of buying and delivery is having its impact on transport but also on the design and impact of distribution centres. Distribution centres have to be located more efficient around the country, but also the role of the distribution centres is becoming more important because of the services that suppliers wants to realize to their customers. The role of transporting companies is becoming more important within the supply chain of producing companies because of the growing size of the amount of deliveries due to E-commerce. Innovations are needed in order to handle the growing size of the delivery market and the negative externalities it roduces. Most suppliers in the retail sector want to create a sustainable supply chain, the role of transport companies is becoming more important as ever due to the impact of E-commerce. The impact of Ecommerce on the supply chain is significantly, not only for transport economics with their future ways of delivery and effects on transport. The design of the future cities and the localization of distribution centres are also having impact on urban economics.