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Consequently, last-mile logistics optimization has garnered increased attention in both academic and industry contexts. In this study, we examine the relationship between the workloads of couriers and their proficiency in executing assigned services in a B2C last-mile and first-mile reverse logistics environment. Additionally, we evaluate the connection between service density in an area and the distance between warehouses and service points with completion rates among couriers. By analysing a dataset corresponding to the deliveries and collections made in Madrid in 2021, we identify significant and moderate correlations between the couriers\u2019 workloads and service completion rate. It should be noted that the correlations of completion rate with distance and visit frequency to each area are weak, yet statistically significant.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s10100-024-00928-x","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,16]],"date-time":"2024-07-16T22:01:35Z","timestamp":1721167295000},"page":"1327-1341","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Exploring the correlation between courier workload, service density and distance with the success of last-mile and first-mile reverse logistics"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"33","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0404-5594","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antonio","family":"Lorenzo-Espejo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5784-4165","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jes\u00fas","family":"Mu\u00f1uzuri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4466-615X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luis","family":"Onieva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4676-8667","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mar\u00eda-Luisa","family":"Mu\u00f1oz-D\u00edaz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"928_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100896","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rtbm.2022.100896","volume":"45","author":"GP Agnusdei","year":"2022","unstructured":"Agnusdei GP, Gnoni MG, Sgarbossa F, Govindann K (2022) Challenges and perspectives of the industry 4.0 technologies within the last-mile and first-mile reverse logistics: a systematic literature review. 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