Abstract
Significant growth in e-commerce in the last decade has intensified the demand for efficient and effective last-mile delivery of products to customers. Parcel lockers have been identified as an alternative node of last-mile delivery that offers potential benefits, including cost reductions, improved convenience, and reduced environmental impact. Existing research on the use of parcel lockers in last-mile delivery is, however, fragmented across disciplines, and study results may be influenced by regional differences. To that end, there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of the role of parcel lockers in last-mile deliveries. This study comprises a bibliometric review of 168 publications extracted from the Scopus database. Results revealed that research on the topic surged post-2020, peaking in 2024. Key themes include logistics and user experience, with uneven global participation and emerging trends in automation. Future research should explore parcel locker adoption, assess regulatory and urban planning frameworks, and apply AI and predictive analytics. Studies should also broaden the geographic scope, especially in developing regions like Africa, and examine emerging models like peer-to-peer and B2B lockers.