Wrocław (Poland):
bringing zero-emission deliveries closer to where people live
Wrocław is a rapidly growing city where increasing delivery demand is placing new pressure on public space, traffic flows and urban logistics. As online shopping continues to expand, the city is exploring new ways to make last-mile deliveries more efficient while reducing congestion and emissions.
Within NEXTLOGIC, Wrocław demonstrates how Mobile Microhubs and cargo-bike deliveries can become part of a cleaner and more flexible urban logistics system. Supported by Digital Twin and eXtended Reality (XR) technologies, the pilot explores how digital planning and collaborative design can help cities optimise freight operations while creating more liveable urban environments.
Building on real experience
Unlike many cities that are only beginning to explore urban logistics innovation, Wrocław already has practical experience with Microhubs. The city has established a Freight Quality Partnership (FQP) bringing together public authorities, researchers and logistics operators, and has successfully launched its first urban Microhub serving courier companies and food distributors.
This experience provides a strong foundation for the NEXTLOGIC pilot while also highlighting the challenges that remain. Delivery vehicles still frequently operate outside designated locations and time windows, creating conflicts with other road users and reducing the efficiency of urban freight operations.
The next step is therefore not simply deploying another Microhub, but understanding how these facilities can become more adaptable, scalable and better integrated into everyday city logistics.
The NEXTLOGIC pilot
The Wrocław pilot focuses on the deployment and evaluation of Mobile Microhubs that support low-emission last-mile deliveries using electric cargo bikes.
Rather than relying on permanent logistics facilities, the project explores a modular approach in which Microhubs can be relocated when necessary to respond to changing operational needs. Goods are transferred from conventional delivery vehicles to cargo bikes, allowing the final stage of deliveries to take place with lower emissions and reduced impacts on traffic and public space.
The pilot places strong emphasis on collaboration. Courier companies, businesses, researchers and city authorities work together throughout the project to assess operational performance, identify barriers and refine future deployment strategies. Lessons learned in Wrocław support the replication of Mobile Microhub solutions in other NEXTLOGIC cities.
Digital tools and logistics solutions
The Wrocław pilot combines digital technologies with innovative logistics solutions to improve the efficiency and sustainability of urban freight.
Digital Twin
The Digital Twin integrates mobility and logistics data into a virtual environment where freight operations can be monitored, analysed and simulated. It supports evidence-based planning while helping evaluate different deployment scenarios before implementation.
eXtended Reality (XR)
XR technologies allow planners and stakeholders to visualise and design Microhub locations within the real urban environment, supporting collaborative planning and helping assess how new infrastructure integrates with surrounding public spaces. Two VR-based simulators will also be developed to train bicycle couriers and other stakeholders involved in last-mile deliveries.
Mobile microhubs
Mobile Microhubs act as temporary consolidation points where goods are transferred from conventional delivery vehicles to electric cargo bikes for the final stage of deliveries. Their modular design provides greater operational flexibility while supporting lower-emission logistics.
Expected impact
Through the Wrocław pilot, NEXTLOGIC demonstrates how flexible logistics infrastructure can contribute to cleaner and more efficient urban freight systems. How?
- Validating the operational performance of Mobile Microhubs in a real urban environment
- Improving the efficiency of last-mile deliveries through cargo-bike operations
- Reducing congestion, emissions and the environmental impact of freight transport
- Strengthening collaboration between public authorities, logistics operators and researchers
- Assessing the transferability of Mobile Microhub solutions to other European cities
Beyond its local implementation, Wrocław contributes valuable operational knowledge on how modular logistics infrastructure can support the transition towards climate-neutral urban freight while remaining adaptable to different city contexts.
Contacts
Interested in the Wrocław pilot? For more information about the local activities, demonstration site, or opportunities to collaborate, please get in touch with the NEXTLOGIC partners coordinating the pilot.
Maja Kiba-Janiak
Wroclaw University of Economics and Business
Pilot lead
Robert Bednarski
Wroclaw Miasto
City representative
Discover the other pilot cities
Wrocław is just one of eight European Mission Cities demonstrating the NEXTLOGIC approach. Discover how the other pilot cities are developing and testing complementary solutions for smarter, greener and more efficient urban mobility and logistics.