Contextualized conceptual framework for exploring the impacts of E-retailing on urban environments in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Online retailing, commonly referred to as e-commerce or e-tailing, has experienced substantial growth and expansion in recent years. The nature of how land uses, and urban environments contribute to and are impacted by this rapid growth is significantly underexplored area in current research. This is largely due to the lack of methodological frameworks to capture the changes unavailability of reliable information and the. In that context, this research proposes a conceptual framework to elucidate the multifaceted dimensions of e-retailing adoption and adaptation mainly focusing on small and medium cities in Sri Lanka. The framework incorporates a range of methodological tools ranging from the use of big data, and traditional surveys with mixed research methodology. Further research presents a comprehensive situation analysis of the expansion of online retailing across different cities in the country. As e-retailing continues to reshape urban environments globally, understanding its multifaceted impacts is essential for guiding future urban development strategies in small and medium cities in Sri Lanka.