SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING LOGISTICS COSTS IN E-COMMERCE: FREIGHT SIMULATION BY DIMENSIONAL VARIATION

Abstract

This work presents the development and validation of a mobile system for batch freight quotation in the field of e-commerce logistics, aiming to assist small entrepreneurs in choosing the most advantageous packaging and shipping service based on variations in package dimensions. The methodology adopted combined the DSDM agile approach for incremental development, exploratory interviews with retailers, systematic dimensional simulation experiments, and integration with the Melhor Envio aggregator API to obtain quotations on various routes. The results showed tariff discontinuities and significant price jumps caused by small dimensional variations, and demonstrated that the automation of simulations allows the identification of more economically favorable options and transshipment alternatives that, in several cases, reduced costs. The implemented solution, tested in a real operational environment for sixty days, processed large volumes of simulations with an average response time compatible with the routine (approximately 10 seconds) and proved a practical gain in decision-making. It is concluded that the tool validates the concept and offers relevant operational benefits, although its commercialization requires improvements in authentication, API quota control, and compliance with legal and contractual requirements.