New logistic patterns of European online and hybrid retailing – the example of Cologne (Germany)

Online and hybrid retailing (OHR) is reshaping urban logistics by introducing new types of businesses, warehouses, and deliveries. Unlike traditional retail, OHR connects these business-specific factors resulting in specific related location requirements. This study empirically identifies and categorizes logistics locations in the Cologne metropolitan area. The emergence of these locations can largely be explained by three business-specific factors: (1) type of retail (quick, online, or hybrid), (2) type of warehouse, and (3) delivery (standard or rapid). These factors are influenced by related location requirements, including population density, customer proximity, space requirements and land prices with regulatory framework, accessibility to transport infrastructure and efficient last-mile accessibility. Based on this analysis, we have developed a conceptual map of OHR location patterns that describes current spatial patterns and explains how they formed based on underlying business and location factors. This framework provides a clear basis for understanding OHR logistics in metropolitan areas.