Optimising the e-grocery supply chain with a mobile service

E-commerce solutions for grocery distribution are valid alternatives to traditional merchandising channels. However, they lack efficient approaches to connect all the partners with real-time information. The work presents an integrated smartphone-based service supporting supply chain management developed together with Telecom Italia. After describing the service architecture, including a time-dependent dynamic vehicle routing algorithm, its potential diffusion in a threeechelon supply chain is analysed through System Dynamics. Benefits and implications for stakeholders are discussed.