Dynamic Route Optimization for Chinese E-Commerce Logistics Based on Ant Colony Algorithm

Abstract

The limited nature of logistics and distribution vehicles and the variability of customer acceptance service time limit the service efficiency and quality of logistics and distribution. To optimize a logistics distribution path under capacity and time window constraints, a mathematical model of the problem is first developed in this study, with the lowest cost as the model’s objective function. The logistics distribution issue with soft time windows is then addressed using an ant colony algorithm, and a logistics path optimization strategy based on the maximum minimal ant colony system is suggested. Then, the heuristic function is rebuilt to improve the ant colony algorithm’s solution speed, and the pheromone update approach is included. Finally, experimental approaches are used to test the model’s and optimization algorithm’s efficacy for customer sizes of 30, 50, and 100. The experimental results show that the optimized ant colony algorithm has the best value of 2 for α and 3 for β, which can converge earlier. The improved ant colony algorithm also finds the best solution faster than the conventional ant colony method in just 23 rounds. In the mathematical model of the logistics distribution path optimization issue, this study suggests that the optimized ant colony method has the optimization algorithm’s rationality, efficacy, and stability.