Last mile delivery is a term that has been around for many years now, and its meaning may vary depending on who you ask. In its general sense, however, it involves ensuring that goods get to the final destination of the supply chain. This can be challenging as it requires drivers to make many stops and face obstacles, such as traffic jams or accidents, along the way.
Nowadays, the scope of last-mile delivery services is rapidly expanding due to more and more customers ordering items to be brought directly to their doorstep. Due to this, businesses – especially those in the e-commerce market – are choosing to hire better third-party companies that will handle this part of the process. Apart from these last mile delivery companies, there has also been an increase in tools like delivery management apps.
This guide will break down what last mile delivery is, how it works, its benefits, and what the trends are today. The guide also looks at the mistakes to avoid when choosing a third-party delivery service provider.
In simple terms, last mile delivery refers to the last leg of the delivery process, which involves transporting goods from a distribution center to their destination. In other words, it is the part of the process that gets each individual package to where it needs to go. Last mile deliveries usually happen within miles of homes – hence the name.
The complete definition, however, can be quite complex and requires the consideration of several different aspects.
Last mile or final mile delivery can refer to the final stretch of an item’s journey or involve multiple legs carried out along with a number of modes of transportation, such as planes, trains, and trucks. It is worth noting, though, that the bulk of last-mile deliveries happen in urban areas.
Additionally, today’s last-mile solutions can provide extra services like package sorting or order pickups at locations close by for those customers who don’t want to go through the trouble of picking up the goods themselves (e.g., grocery stores). Some of these services are usually more expensive than regular last-mile deliveries, but we must mention that this is not always the case since the service can be cheaper for large orders.
In a nutshell, last mile delivery services are an innovative way to get goods delivered quickly and efficiently. The areas and specific types of services it covers are expanding, as businesses and consumers alike are betting on optimized deliveries as a very convenient way of selling and buying.
Asking yourself what makes this step of the process important? The answer is it can make all the difference in the delivery supply chain. One major reason that last mile delivery services are important to businesses, especially new ones on a budget (or those who don’t have their fleet in place yet), is because they provide an inexpensive and convenient way for goods to be delivered.
Companies focus on this part of the process because optimizing it ensures that customers get their items with the least effort possible.
Other benefits of last-mile delivery include the following:
In essence, this service takes care of the delivery from the item’s location – usually a store or distribution center – to the requested destination. The nature of the service and the logistics vary. Here are some examples:
The steps involved in last mile delivery, from the viewpoint of the consumer, include:
The future of last mile delivery looks bright. The fact that the deliveries are so cheap and quick makes them more popular than ever before. Especially in the age where everything needs to be delivered right away, or it’s no good.
Fast delivery turnaround times are becoming even more important as time goes on. And with developments like Amazon Prime Now, customers can get their packages within hours by paying a little extra for expedited shipping.
Additionally, when we look into the future, we can see that more and more people are looking for last mile delivery services. As the world becomes increasingly urbanized, it’s becoming difficult to live without a car in areas where everything is at least 20 miles outside of town. So not only do we have short windows – sometimes hours instead of days or weeks – but also less time on our hands because we have to travel so much farther if we want products.
So what does that mean? Companies specializing in this part of the delivery process could get very popular in the days to come. The future looks bright for logistics businesses, especially those with good connections with different online shopping sites (e.g., Amazon and eBay) and large warehouses near cities.
Since we all live in an increasingly digital world, people will place more and more orders online to avoid long lines at brick-and-mortar stores. However, most people don’t like the convenience that comes with online ordering. With a laptop or smartphone, they can order what they want from the comfort of their sofa.
Additionally, the future last mile delivery services might not just be for e-commerce but could also include food delivery from restaurants and other services that would help make life in rural areas easier.
To make last mile delivery efficient and effective is a matter of being organized. The following tips will come in handy in achieving this.
One of the most common tools that businesses use to better their delivery process is last-mile delivery software. If your company is doing last-mile delivery or last-mile courier service on its own, this software is an inexpensive option that will allow the goods to travel smoothly and arrive at their destination in a timely manner.
Using last-mile delivery mobile apps will help you keep track of all your orders and deliveries in real time. Here are some added benefits:
Third-party last mile delivery companies have been around for as long as last mile delivery itself has been in existence. They help manage the last leg of your supply chain, which involves loading and unloading operations at distribution centers and providing transportation for goods to their final destination.
Third-party last mile delivery services may not exist in every region, but one likely exists near you based on where your business is located. This option is one many businesses are going for today, and one you should consider too.
Let’s look at the advantages that come with using third-party companies for your last mile delivery solutions.
In sum, entrusting last-mile delivery to a third-party company greatly adds to its optimization, which as we mentioned, is becoming more and more crucial.
Your last mile delivery will be as good as the service provider you have chosen. And while third-party last mile delivery companies are much sought after, people make some common mistakes when choosing these service providers. Some of these mistakes include the following:
Some third parties do not have a good reputation because they deliver late or get packages lost in transit. So, make sure you research their backgrounds and references thoroughly before deciding on which one to hire. You want someone reliable enough to ensure your package is delivered successfully without any problems whatsoever. That means getting a well-known logistics company with an impeccable record will serve better than just choosing one randomly from the internet.
While price can be a big factor, don’t make it your only priority. Ensure you know the rates, how much they charge for last mile delivery, and any hidden fees that may come up.
Saturdays can be great if you need something delivered quickly, but there might not be many third-party last mile delivery service providers available on this day since most people do not work during weekends.
It’s always better to go with a company with positive reviews. The majority of companies have at least dozens of reviews available on the internet. Check these reviews to know what other people are saying before opting into the service.
Additionally, ensure that the company has reviews. Sometimes, we see no negative feedback and believe everything is good to go; however, we forget that this doesn’t ensure that a firm is good. If there are no reviews, the business is probably new or not very well known. Then, you will need to do further research (ask people in the industry, contact them, set up a trial period, etc.) in order to make your decision.
Some third-party companies charge you for delivering your package on top of the price they are charging you for carrying it in the first place. Others can have added taxes or fees. So, as obvious as it sounds, make sure to check what “Free” means in each case.
If something happens during transfer or transport – whether there was damage or loss while in transit – some third parties will often deny responsibility even though they were probably involved from start to finish. Your best bet is to get full liability protection instead.
Are you looking specifically for same-day delivery? Do they provide other third-party services like warehousing or distribution centers? Are there additional fees associated with these services that need to be considered as well? These factors should all weigh into your decision when choosing a third-party logistics provider.
While it is relatively easy to focus on the services you want and discard the companies that do not offer them, there is another side to this. There may also be something they provide that you don’t need. These extra features may result in you paying for something that will not be useful to you.
Last mile delivery is not immune to the perils of shipment. Many challenges can make last mile delivery a long and difficult journey. Some of these challenges include:
There are times when customer expectations may be at odds with the realities of last-mile logistics. For instance, customers might want their package delivered to them by noon–a feat not possible for any last mile provider in most cases unless they have an onsite pickup location.
Customers might also expect items like wine glasses to arrive intact if shipped via road transportation. However, these fragile goods may break during shipment. Some customers may only misinterpret this to mean a letdown.
Limited visibility is yet another last mile home delivery challenge. Not only is the delivery more difficult in remote areas, but many businesses don’t accept last mile deliveries at all. If you’re attempting to deliver a package to the last mile, make sure your customer has the necessary contact information, and they agree to be home for it. In some cases, this may mean adding an extra day of service or sending multiple drivers to ensure no one misses their window.
If the routes last mile drivers take are unoptimized rather than optimized, they could waste gas and cost customers more money. Avoiding routes that are impractical, such as one-way streets or deliveries more than 30 minutes away from a customer’s location, can help keep costs down for everyone involved in this kind of arrangement.
As you have seen in this guide, last mile delivery services are an innovative way for businesses to provide a solution that will increase customer satisfaction and retention and improve efficiency. One of the most important factors in last mile logistics is deciding which service provider you should use. In this article, we have explored several different aspects of last mile delivery. Now that you know what it is and how it works, last mile delivery will be the last thing standing in your business way.
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