Marketing, Sales and Operations

Micrologistics: a return to the past may be the future

A few years ago, in small towns or villages, it was common to see small traders going door to door, like the baker or the fishmonger, business models that are disappearing nowadays. However, sometimes you need to take one step back to go two steps forward, and in a pandemic situation like the one we live in, this business model is advantageous to keep people at home and with fresh products every day.

22
February 2021
3
 min of reading

ccording to an exclusive article in Expresso, this business model is already beginning to be felt in the interior of the country , applied to bread, milk, newspapers and books. At first, businessmen replaced couriers in the delivery of goods, but the solution imposed by the pandemic was to adopt this door-to-door micrologistic service, carried out by small operators, or through municipal solutions.

One of the advantages of the pandemic was to have accelerated home deliveries, saving costs and increasing revenues for local businesses, but according to the source there is still a lack of municipal plans and broadband networks to speed up access to electronic platforms and reduce travel.

More and more couriers in a variety of vehicles are being seen delivering goods to towns and cities in the interior of the country, taking advantage of the confinement caused by the pandemic. These are goods forwarded by small businesses, which have changed the way goods are distributed and stored.

The Expresso also explains that one of the main micrologistics centres is in Beiras, on national highway 229, a few kilometres from the road that connects to the Douro, and sells everything from groceries to agricultural products and fuel.

Agostinho Oliveira, Janeira's director, tells us that "we deliver everything to the surrounding municipalities, from Sátão to Aguiar da Beira, sometimes Trancoso or even Penalva do Castelo". This huge warehouse is responsible for supplying this rural region, without much commercial supply, and satisfies the needs of clients, which can range from fertilizer to firewood, or sugar. Every day, in small vans, "the deliveries are loaded at the shop and sent on to the clients".

This article is republished under the partnership between Nova SBE Executive Education and Supply Chain Magazine " Read the original article

Get to know our Postgraduate Studies in
Supply Chain Management?
Published in 
22/2/2021
 in the area of 
Marketing, Sales and Operations

Join Our Newsletter and Get the Latest
Posts to Your Inbox

No spam ever. Read our Privacy Policy
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
About the Author
Nova SBE Executive Education
View full profile
More articles you might find interesting
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Illusion of Agility and the Dilemma of Resilience in SMEs
The article examines the challenges facing SMEs in an increasingly unstable economic environment, marked by geopolitical conflicts, regulatory pressure, supply chain disruptions, and financial constraints. It argues that operational resilience is not built solely on technology or extreme efficiency, but on solid processes, alternative suppliers, close partnerships, and leadership capable of preparing the organization to continuously absorb shocks.
Institutional
Marketeer Awards 2026
Nova SBE Executive Education won the 2026 Marketeer Awards in the “Higher Education Institution” category for the sixth consecutive year, further cementing its reputation as a leader in executive education in Portugal.
Institutional
Nova SBE Executive Education Enters the Global Top 10
Nova SBE Executive Education has achieved its best ranking ever in the Financial Times Executive Education rankings: 9th in the global Top 10 for Customized Programs and among the Top 20 for Open Programs. It also retains its No. 1 position in Portugal.
See all articles