400162Improved choice and reduced waste for consumer goods through informed logisticsClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKThis is a feasibility project intended to create enabling technology for a "virtual high-street". The proposal is for on-line ordering from multiple local an.d national businesses delivere.d with least road traffic via shared use of existmg Infrastructures (websites, order assembly, local delivery vans, empty packaging returned and re-used). The system will feature: (1) Multiple businesses delivering to same address in one trip: less traffic & more service innovation (2) Product customisation via on-line ordered/warehouse prepared not available in conventional retail (3) Avoidance of waste through re-useable packaging (empty packs returned through the system) (4) Significant scope for innovation in an industry sector where UK leads (retail management/logistics) The key is efficient logistics that minimise cost (and impact)- to give financial room to create more innovative products and services. The technical enabler is to extend logistics information to the "last mile" via RFID enabled primary and secondary pacakging. Project output will be: (1) Prototypes of technical enablers (RFID-enabled packaging and tracking/reading systems) (2) System specification based on consultation with all interested stakeholders (3) Business plan for regional trial as main follow-on project In view of the wide range of stakeholders involved this project is a feasibility stage only. It will make the consumer case (advantages and interaction with the system), financial/logistics case, environmental/social case (traffic, packaging waste), and build a consortium for a regional trial.