Last-mile logistics in the Czech Republic is undergoing a period of rapid transformation, driven by a combination of rising customer expectations, technological advancement, and growing pressure for sustainability. The Czech e-commerce market is expanding at a fast pace — with year-on-year growth exceeding 17%, significantly outpacing the European average of approximately 11%. Around 70% of the Czech population now shops online. This trend places significant demands on the efficiency and flexibility of last-mile delivery and is simultaneously fuelling strong demand for well-located logistics and warehouse spaces, particularly in and around densely populated areas. Data from Prologis confirms a marked increase in demand for modern logistics space, with 3PL providers emerging in recent years as one of the main drivers of new demand in the market.
Speed matters: The growing demand for quick delivery
One of the key challenges in last-mile logistics is meeting customer expectations for delivery speed — particularly in large cities, where next-day delivery, same-day delivery, or precise time-window delivery has become the standard. Changing consumer preferences also play a major role, particularly the shift toward out-of-home (OOH) delivery options. According to an analysis by Authentica Fulfillment, more than 56% of consumers prefer this form of delivery, and the number continues to grow. Across the Czech Republic, there are more than 15,000 pickup and drop-off points, including a wide range of stores and automated parcel lockers. This robust network supports the rapid growth of out-of-home delivery, which is expected to increase by more than 50% in the coming years.
Emerging urban businesses and their unique needs
In addition to traditional parcel carriers, a growing number of specialized players focused on grocery delivery are gaining prominence in the last-mile space. Online grocery retail in the Czech Republic continues to grow steadily, with recent years seeing significant expansion beyond major urban centers. "Speed, accuracy, and freshness play a key role in online grocery sales. Every day, we deliver thousands of orders within precisely defined time windows and at the correct temperature. This requires not only perfect organization and proprietary route planning technology, but also top-tier warehouse facilities. We see the future of last-mile logistics in a combination of local fulfillment centers, automation, and eco-friendly transport," says Ondřej Volek, Fulfillment Centre Manager at Rohlík Group.
These operators face very specific challenges due to their focus on fast-moving consumer goods and perishable products — such as maintaining the cold chain, optimizing delivery routes, and ensuring sustainable logistics. “Companies working with fresh food have highly specific requirements when it comes to storage. A typical demand is for multi-zone storage systems that ensure fresh products across various categories remain in perfect condition throughout the supply chain. While such solutions can be energy-intensive, we are able to reliably deliver these conditions in our facilities thanks to the use of advanced technologies,” explains Martin Baláž, SVP and Head of Asset Management Prologis Central Europe. “Thanks to the strategic location of our warehouse in Prologis Park Prague-Chrášťany, we are able to efficiently serve entire metropolitan areas while reducing our carbon footprint. As an online grocery retailer, we place great emphasis on combining speed, quality, and sustainability – from automated warehousing to low-emission fleets,” adds Ondřej Volek.
Closer, Smarter, Greener: Logistics Hubs Built for the Last Mile
A key prerequisite for efficient last-mile logistics is the availability of suitable properties close to high-density population centers, especially in the Prague metropolitan area. “Our core locations for last-mile logistics include parks in Rudná, Chrášťany, as well as Prologis Park Prague-Airport In Jeneč and Prologis Park D1 East and West in Jažlovice and Modletice. These facilities offer strategic positioning with excellent access not only to Prague, but also to major transport routes, enabling effective service across the wider region. All parks are designed with a strong focus on sustainability — incorporating modern technologies such as LED lighting, heat pumps, and charging stations for electric vehicles — and meet the standards of BREEAM certification,” adds Martin Baláž. Thanks to these characteristics, the parks offer ideal conditions for companies focused on last-mile delivery that require flexible and environmentally responsible spaces for their operations.
Through the Prologis Essentials platform, customers also gain access to a broad range of tailor-made sustainable and energy-efficient solutions as well as automation solutions — such as advanced next-generation LED lighting with motion and daylight sensors, advanced racking solutions, automation and robotics or charging infrastructure for zero-emission freight vehicles, including electric delivery cars and vans. These vehicles are essential for reducing emissions in dense urban areas, where air quality and noise reduction are becoming increasingly important and where regulatory pressure to decarbonize transport is growing rapidly.