Revolutionizing Last-Mile Logistics: Integrating Autonomous Vertical Delivery Systems in High-Rise Urban Environments

This article examines the integration of autonomous vertical delivery systems (AVDS) for high-rise buildings in cities, while discussing the last-mile challenges that plague traditional elevator systems, which increase operational costs and CO₂ emissions. It is precisely due to this e-commerce and online food delivery boom that the study becomes relevant; modern times see up to 85% of a courier’s delivery cycle time as vertical movement inside a building—skyscraper situation kills all benefits brought by digitally optimized routing; enormous economic and reputational losses happen to both developers and delivery services. The novelty of this research lies in proposing full automation of vertical delivery based on a patented gateway for receiving couriers’ carts, a modular silent conveyor, and integrated microlockers on each floor, eliminating elevator frustration and ensuring end-to-end digital parcel tracking. The solution is easily scalable to any high-rise parameters and integrates with the IT infrastructure of major delivery operators. Following AVDS deployment, the courier time inside the building is reduced to less than one minute, empty elevator trips decrease by one-third, and the building’s carbon footprint is reduced by 3–4%. Econometric analysis reveals an 8.6% increase in tenants’ lease-renewal willingness and a 2.43 percentage point reduction in vacancy, while apartment values rise by USD 4,000–6,000 due to improved Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics. This article will help developers, property managers, and logistics operators who want to cut costs and boost service quality in tall building projects.