Computational Approaches for Grocery Home Delivery Services

The steadily growing popularity of grocery home-delivery services is most likely based on the convenience experienced by its customers. However, perishable nature products imposes certain requirements during delivery process. customer must be present when arrives so that process can completed without interrupting cold chain. Therefore, retailer and mutually agree a time window which guaranteed. This concept referred to as attended home (AHD) problem in scientific literature. phase customers place orders, usually through web service, constitutes computationally challenging part logistical processes behind such services. system determine potential windows offered incoming incrementally build schedule new orders are placed. Typically, underlying optimization vehicle routing with windows. work concerned case given an international retailer’s online shopping service. We analysis several efficient solution methods employed AHD A framework for operational planning tools required tackle order placement provided. basic easily adapted used many similar applications. provide comprehensive computational study comparing algorithmic strategies, combining heuristics utilizing local search operations mixed-integer linear programs, tackling booking Finally, we analyze scalability suitability approaches.