Optimizing Supply Chain Management of Fresh E-Commerce Agri-Consumer Products Using Energy-Efficient Vehicle Routing

Nowadays, optimizing supply chain management of fresh Agri-products has become a major challenge for food distributors due to the short shelf-life and perishable nature of these products. The prompt and high-quality distribution of these goods without sacrificing their freshness, however, immediately raises the cost of transportation. Considering these facts, the current study attempts to investigate the function of several characteristics that affect the distribution network’s efficacy. Afterwards, an optimization model is developed to reduce the vehicle travel-times using an energy-efficient wireless vehicular network. This model ensures that all constraints of the delivery process are met under ambient conditions. The primary goal is to minimize the overall delivery cost without causing freshness decay. To achieve this, an enhanced ant colony algorithm (ACA) is tailored for open vehicle routing instead of closed vehicle routing strategies. The validation of the model is done through comparison of Improved Ant Colony Algorithm (IACA) with Ant Colony Algorithm (ACA). Results indicate that the Improved Ant Colony Algorithm (IACA) is significantly cheaper for the delivery of fresh e-commerce products. Additionally, this approach utilizes an energy-efficient wireless vehicular network, which further enhances the sustainability and efficiency of logistics operations.