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Finally, it should be noted that in 2018, the Ontario Ministry consumers to shift their shopping behaviours, leading to
of Finance published The Home Sharing Guide for Ontario an unprecedented rise in online shopping and demand for
Municipalities – a document for governments “that are same-day and next-day delivery as well as renewed interest
considering regulating home-sharing in their communities” in crowdshipping services (Pahwa & Jaller, 2023; Deschamps,
(Ministry of Finance, 2018). The guide highlights several 2020). Needless to say, consumers and public and private
benefits associated with homesharing, including increased sector organizations are paying attention to crowdsourced
economic and tourism opportunities. However, the delivery services, including ones that are experimenting
guide makes no mention of emergency management with and introducing tomorrow’s couriers –- drones, robots,
opportunities, despite the fact that homesharing is proving and driverless vehicles (LMAD, 2022).
to be a viable emergency shelter and housing strategy, one
that public and private sector organizations should examine As mentioned earlier, crowdshipping services safely
when conducting environmental scans and formulating and affordably supported the core business functions
strategic and operational emergency management plans. of pharmacies and grocery stores during the pandemic.
Pharmacies turned to crowdshippers to deliver prescription
medications to patients and medical protective equipment
Crowdshipping to hospitals, while grocery stores collaborated with
crowdshippers to make food deliveries to online shoppers.
Given that crowdshipping is still a relatively new
phenomena, it warrants a brief discussion. Crowdshipping In a similar manner, postal services around the world,
relies on a network of individuals and a digital platform. including the United States Postal Service, have been
These individuals, known as crowdshippers, use their own studying or adopting crowdshipping in an effort to reduce
vehicles or public transportation to deliver packages from business costs, road congestion, and carbon emissions
senders to receivers (Ait, 2020). The platform’s algorithm (Office of Inspector General, 2014). Of course, the postal
matches crowdshippers with convenient pick-up and sector is also trying to remain relevant in a technology- and
delivery addresses, typically along their commute to and market-driven world that continues to see sharing economy
from work, college or university, or some other origin models challenge traditional business operations, including
or destination (Ait, 2020). It is important to note that those of the oldest and most entrenched industries in the
crowdshippers who utilize public transportation modes –– world like logistics and retail.
buses, streetcars, subways, and trains –– or air travel, raise
several safety, security, and financial concerns, however, this For example, after one American logistics company noticed
is beyond the scope of this piece (Lopez-Martinez, 2022). that commercial airliners across the United States were
employing a crowdshipping service to return misplaced
Prior to the pandemic, crowdshipping was emerging as a luggage to travellers, it acquired the startup (Kapadia, 2021).
more affordable, flexible, and environmentally conscious In such cases, crowdshipping is proving to be effective
alternative to last mile delivery –– a long-standing in minimizing disruptions to travellers, employees, and
challenge faced by traditional logistics (Dolan, 2022). Of airline operations, thus reducing operational, financial, and
course, COVID-19 and stay-at-home restrictions forced reputational risks.

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