Formulating a Conceptual Framework for Route Planning and Warehouse Design-Operation in the E- Commerce Based Logistics Companies In Bangladesh.

Abstract

Frameworks assist organizations in saving time and increasing the efficiency of their operations by providing a list of all the common process elements found in the majority of businesses that can be used as building blocks. Bangladesh has seen a surge in e-commerce business as a result of the country's growing internet user base, and it is expected that the sector's size will continue to grow over time. Logistics and warehousing are two of the most critical components for this sector's smooth and efficient operation. The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework for warehouse design, operation, and optimized route map inside four main divisions of the country for the logistics network, of established and new e-commerce businesses. The research employed both quantitative and qualitative methods, with data being gathered from the real-time operation of the logistics system of one of the country's largest logistics companies, as well as from on-site interviews using a structured questionnaire. The research's findings included the proposal of a new warehouse design layout, modern scientific approaches to warehouse operation, and an optimized route map for the logistics system, all of which were implemented using operation research tools in four of the major divisions of Bangladesh. The research as like any other ones is narrowed to some limitations when considered in terms of practical implementation. Space constraints and a lack of modern technologies/skilled manpower may impede businesses from implementing the design and operational strategies of warehouse proposed in the research in a practical setting. The route planning for the logistics system are also always skeptical as the road condition varies a lot in Bangladesh. Moreover, for the sake of simplicity and as an initial proposal, route plans were limited to four divisions and also within those divisions only. This work indeed paves the way for future research to develop a more revised and optimized framework for accomplishing the same goal.