Reflection on faster and faster deliveries: Possible social changes arising from logistical immediacy

Abstract

This paper uses the Antecedents, Decisions, and Outcomes (ADO) format, supported by the SPAR-4-SLR protocol, to understand the social changes resulting from increasingly faster deliveries in logistics services. This method guides the conduct of research by using an organised analysis structure to evaluate in the literature the antecedents and decision factors that contribute to this movement, helping in gaining an understanding of the factors influencing social change. Based on extensive coverage of studies published from 1996 to 2024, an investigation was conducted on topics related to immediacy in deliveries and possible social impacts to establish a line of understanding in this regard. A categories-based structure was organised with a view to understanding the transformations that influenced increasingly faster deliveries, the alternatives and technologies adopted by companies, and to inferring the possible social impacts generated. With the analysis carried out, the study presents the transformations that companies have undergone and the factors influencing the logistical immediacy imposed on deliveries. Issues were explored regarding the impact of the application of lean practices in the industry the sales and delivery approaches adopted by e-commerce, and the influence of innovations and technological platforms that surround delivery operations. The social impacts are evident on several fronts, emphasising the delivery workforce, the influences of autonomous technologies on workers, and urban issues related to traffic, pollution, and public policies. Finally, the possible social changes observed in the studies are organised, presented, and discussed, and guidelines for future research are provided.