Improvement of Outbound Logistics in an E-Commerce Company Using RPA, ABC Analysis, and SLP Tools

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26439/ciii2025.8650

Keywords:

ABC classification, e-commerce, outbound logistics, robotic process automation

Abstract

This study aims to reduce the high percentage rate of failed deliveries (39.09%) in a Peruvian import based e-commerce company, whose operations exhibit deficiencies in distribution and storage processes. To address these issues, an integrated solution was designed using three logistics tools: the systematic layout planning (SLP) methodology, employed to reorganize the warehouse according to nine product categories; ABC classification, used to relocate items within racks based on their turnover and demand; and robotic process automation (RPA), applied to routing through optimization algorithms. The proposal complied with current technical and legal regulations and was validated through simulation using Arena software, demonstrating an 83.6% reduction in routing time, a 54.6% improvement in average picking time, and a 20-percentage-point increase in the on-time in-full (OTIF) indicator. The results confirm that the integrated application of these tools significantly improves logistics efficiency in similar operational models within the e-commerce sector.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

  • Elizabeth S. Castillo Vera, Carrera de Ingeniería Industrial, Universidad de Lima, Perú

    Elizabeth Sumie Castillo Vera holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad de Lima, Peru. She currently works as a Category Strategy & Innovation Analyst at Belcorp. Her research interests focus on business strategy and innovation, data analysis and quantitative models applied to decision-making, market research and consumer behavior, and process optimization and improvement.

  • Gian P. F. Robles Flores, Carrera de Ingeniería Industrial, Universidad de Lima, Perú

    Gian Paul Fabián Robles Flores holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad de Lima, Peru. He has corporate experience in the B2B commercial field at Alicorp and in commercial management for the Men’s Retail division at Ripley. His research interests focus on the development and implementation of strategies, the analysis of factors and data for decision-making, and the optimization and improvement of internal processes aimed at generating value and benefits for consumers.

  • José A. Taquía Gutiérrez, Carrera de Ingeniería Industrial, Universidad de Lima, Perú

    José Antonio Taquía Gutiérrez holds a PhD in Business Management from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos and a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad de Lima. In the private sector, he has participated in several technology project implementations applied to operations in supply chain processes and decision-support systems for leading retail companies. He has also developed projects for the Instituto de Investigación Científica of Universidad de Lima. His main research interests are process improvement, predictive analytics, and Industry 4.0.

  • María T. Noriega Araníbar de Lavalle, Carrera de Ingeniería Industrial, Universidad de Lima, Perú

    María Teresa Noriega Aranibar de Lavalle holds a PhD in Accounting and Business Sciences from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, a Master’s degree in Forest Industries from Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, and a degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad de Lima. She is Editor of the Ingeniería Industrial journal of Universidad de Lima, Full Professor in the Faculty of Engineering, and a researcher and thesis and research project advisor in the field of engineering. She has also served as an evaluator for the National Quality Award. She is co-author of the books Project Portfolio, Techniques for Work Study, Continuous Improvement of Processes, Plant Layout, and Manual for the Design of Manufacturing and Service Facilities, and author of several indexed articles.

References

[1] L. M. Acuña Morales, P. M. Chávarry Pajuelo, R. A. Luna Huamanjulca, and J. J. Sánchez Reyes, “Gestión de innovación y tecnología en el sector e-commerce en el Perú [Innovation and technology management in the e-commerce sector in Peru],” M.S. thesis, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.proquest.com/openview/9ef01c7e8788550a20e16f48a

2d85743/1

[2] M. A. Ortiz-Chávez, J. E. Mendoza-Pumapillo, J. O. Dilas-Jiménez, and C. A. Mugruza-Vassallo, “E-commerce of Peruvian SMEs: Determinants of internet sales before and during COVID-19,” Heliyon, vol. 10, no. 23, Dec. 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40331

[3] Banco Central de Reserva del Perú, “Reporte del Sistema Nacional de Pagos y del sector fintech en Perú – Marzo 2025 (Report on the National Payment System and the fintech sector in Peru – March 2025),” Banco Central de Reserva del Perú, Lima, Peru, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.bcrp.gob.pe/docs/sistema-de-pagos/reportes/2025/informe-sistema-de-pagos-y-fintech-2025-1.pdf

[4] C. A. Gonzales Ruiz, “Propuesta de mejora de la gestión logística para cumplir con el nivel de servicio en un operador logístico [Proposal to improve logistics management to meet the service level in a logistics operator],” Thesis for the degree of Industrial Engineer, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://cybertesis.unmsm.edu.pe/backend/api/core/bitstreams/5918cb6d-bbb8-46fa-a09f-f754a73cb823/content

[5] S. Chopra, Supply chain management: Strategy, planning, and operation, 7th ed. Harlow, U.K.: Pearson, 2021.

[6] E. H. Grosse, C. H. Glock, M. Y. Jaber, and W. P. Neumann, “Incorporating human factors in order picking planning models: Framework and research opportunities,” Int. J. Prod. Res., vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 695–717, 2015, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2014.919424

[7] Y. Wang, L. Ran, X. Guan, J. Fan, Y. Sun, and H. Wang, “Collaborative multicenter vehicle routing problem with time windows and mixed deliveries and pickups,” Expert Syst. Appl., vol. 197, Jul. 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2022.116690

[8] M. E. Tavara, “FACULTAD DE DERECHO Y HUMANIDADES ESCUELA PROFESIONAL DE CIENCIAS DE LA COMUNICACIÓN,” 2022.

[9] J. Gu, M. Goetschalckx, and L. F. McGinnis, “Research on warehouse design and performance evaluation: A comprehensive review,” Eur. J. Oper. Res., vol. 203, no. 3, pp. 539–549, 2010, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2009.07.031

[10] H. K. Smith, “Impact of robotic process automation (RPA) on e-supply chain coordination efficiency,” Oct. 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/384808247

[11] S. Ramingwong, A. Sopadang, K. Y. Tippayawong, and J. Jintana, “Factory logistics improvement: A case study analysis of companies in northern Thailand, 2022–2024,” Logistics, vol. 8, no. 3, p. 88, Sep. 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/logistics8030088

[12] S. Aguirre and A. Rodriguez, “Automation of a business process using robotic process automation (RPA): A case study,” in Proc. Applied Computer Sciences in Engineering (WEA 2017), Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol. 742, Springer, Aug. 2017, pp. 65–71, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66963-2_7

[13] S. Pasupuleti, “Modeling and simulation in robotic process automation: Exploring potential for speed and efficiency in critical systems,” ESP Int. J. Advancements Sci. Technol., 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.56472/25839233/ijast-v1i2p108

[14] T. Kitsantas, P. Georgoulas, and E. Chytis, “Integrating robotic process automation with artificial intelligence for business process automation: Analysis, applications, and limitations,” J. Syst. Manag. Sci., vol. 14, no. 7,

pp. 217–242, Jun. 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.33168/jsms.2024.0712

[15] X. Hu and Y. F. Chuang, “E-commerce warehouse layout optimization: Systematic layout planning using a genetic algorithm,” Electron. Commer. Res., vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 97–114, Jan. 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10660-021-09521-9

[16] A. D. Valdivia Alfaro, G. S. Rentería Nuñez, and A. E. Flores Perez, “Implementation of 5S, SLP, standard work, ABC, and minimum and maximum system in a warehouse in metropolitan Lima: Improvement of OTIF orders,” in Proc. 2024 6th Int. Conf. Management Science and Industrial Engineering (MSIE ’24), ACM Int. Conf. Proc. Ser., Assoc. Comput. Mach., Aug. 2024, pp. 351–358, doi: https://doi.org/10.1145/3664968.3665016

[17] C. A. Ramirez-Cruz, L. Salirrosas-Espinoza, and J. C. Quiroz-Flores, “Implementing lean manufacturing and SLP tools to reduce order errors in a pharmaceutical warehouse in Peru,” in Proc. 2023 10th Int. Conf. Industrial Engineering and Applications (ICIEAEU ’23), ACM Int. Conf. Proc. Ser., Assoc. Comput. Mach., Jun. 2023, pp. 192–198, doi: https://doi.org/10.1145/3587889.3588199

[18] E. Badharinath, V. D. Reddy, P. S. Kumar, and A. K. Damodaram, “Optimization of manufacturing plant layout using systematic layout planning (SLP) method,” in Proc. 2nd Int. Conf. Sustainable Technologies and Advances in Automation, Aerospace and Robotics (STAAAR 2023), MATEC Web Conf., vol. 393, p. 01005, Mar. 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/202439301005

[19] E. Marcelo-Alfaro, S. Rodríguez-Escobedo, R. Moore-Torres, and C. Torres, “Storage management model based on lean warehouse management and systematic layout planning,” in Proc. 22nd LACCEI Int. Multi-Conf. Eng., Educ., Technol., Latin Amer. Caribbean Consortium Eng. Institutions, 2024,

doi: https://doi.org/10.18687/LACCEI2024.1.1.1805

[20] A. Avdeikins and M. Savrasovs, “Making warehouse logistics smart by effective placement strategy based on genetic algorithms,” Transp. Telecommun., vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 318–324, Dec. 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.2478/ttj-2019-0026

[21] R. Gonzales-Vasquez, C. A. Lobato-Tello, and A. Flores-Perez, “Application of ABC, slotting, and EOQ to increase productivity in a trading company: An empirical research in Peru,” in Proc. 4th Asia Pacific Int. Conf. Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, Sep. 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.46254/AP04.20230202

[22] X. P. Flores Gutiérrez, Y. B. Cota Pardini, and R. Loredo Medina, “Redistribución de inventario con base en clasificación ABC para mejorar el flujo de materiales en una empresa productora de alimentos en Sinaloa, México,” Ing. Ind., no. 44, pp. 65-80, Jun. 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.26439/ing.ind2023.n44.6244

[23] S. Özhan Doğan, A. Karataş, and N. Bulduk, “System integration with slotting and ABC analysis,” Int. J. Comput. Exp. Sci. Eng., vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 1765-1769, Dec. 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.22399/ijcesen.784

[24] A. Silva, K. J. Roodbergen, L. C. Coelho, and M. Darvish, “Estimating optimal ABC zone sizes in manual warehouses,” CIRRELT Working Paper, CIRRELT-2021-22, May 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15357.28645

Published

2026-06-08