Environmental sustainability and consumers’ preferences about parcel lockers as delivery option in the context of e-commerce: evidence from a survey and implications for Italian SMEs

The new industrial revolution, even called Industry 4.0, is characterized by high dynamism, volatility and uncertainty, where the ability to change is an essential feature for all companies. In this environment, innovative technologies are key enablers in order to meet the customers’ needs and today’s strategic priorities, as sustainability. The present study aims to analyze the preference of customers, if adequately informed, according to the most sustainable delivery option in the context of e-commerce. A survey among 826 respondents demonstrated the importance of communication in the purchasing process of digital shoppers. This result is particularly relevant for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) due to its implications in terms of trade off between logistic service and transportation cost.