E-commerce is a key driver of the ongoing restructuring of retail and logistics. The reorganisation of online and offline distribution channels and new customer expectations have transformed retail, logistics and e-commerce towards a digital ecosystem. Shifts have occurred in market shares from physical stores to mail orders, as sales from the latter have tripled in the last ten years. Distribution channels have accelerated, and delivery, in particular, has come to be controlled by digital equipment. In the process, employment conditions in both sectors have started to change.

Guiding questions:

• How does the rise of e-commerce affect employment conditions in retail and logistics?
• What impact do new technologies have on process innovation and restructuring in logistics, retail and e-commerce?

Project partner: Markus Helfen, FU Berlin