Before COVID-19, e-commerce was rapidly expanding. However, the pandemic drove even more people online, encouraging them to spend more money and do so more frequently. Over the last two years, we expect the pandemic to have added $218.53 billion to e-bottom commerce’s line.
As more people resort to e-commerce for all of their purchasing requirements, quick fulfillment and delivery are no longer a bonus—they are a must of every online shopping experience.
As a result, companies are rushing to develop new technologies and test supply chain models to increase package volume, speed deliveries, and please customers while lowering costs. Unfortunately, same-day, final-mile delivery is one of their most expensive and difficult expenses.
The last mile delivery is the final phase of the process — the point at which the package ultimately arrives at the buyer’s door — in a product’s trip from warehouse shelf to back of a truck to the customer’s doorstep.
Here are seven of the latest trends for last-mile delivery:
Crowdsourced Last-Mile Delivery
Crowdsourced last-mile delivery, also known as crowdsourced logistics, is a fulfillment method that relies on a network of untrained local couriers to deliver items directly to customers.
Businesses use crowdsourcing for last-mile deliveries since it helps them promptly deliver orders to their clients. Companies may satisfy customer demands for immediate pleasure while guaranteeing that products are delivered on time. Crowdsourcing logistics reduce delivery failures.
For firms that use crowdsourcing shippers, “fewer cattle, less care” is accurate. Contract couriers have their own vehicles and are experienced drivers. This eliminates the need for businesses to manage delivery fleets, vehicle upkeep, and in-house drivers.
Crowdsourcing last-mile delivery lowers the human resource costs of complex logistics associated with on-demand delivery.
Last-Mile Delivery Online Tracking
Customers today want complete transparency on the status of their package from the time they place it until they receive it. The information sent to customers about order status and, ideally, where the order is in real-time is known as last-mile delivery tracking.
Customers now want more control over their deliveries than ever before. Thus providing last-mile delivery tracking is critical to delivering a competitive delivery experience.
Before making a purchase, customers can conduct research on firms, read online reviews, and compare prices and delivery costs. To attract, recruit, and retain consumers, companies must provide a fantastic delivery experience.
Delivery Bots
Many large international corporations and startups compete to develop mobile robotic units capable of autonomously delivering small commodities, mail, or groceries. These bots, also known as Last-Mile Delivery (LMD) robots, come in various sizes, shapes, and propulsion systems.
With the continued integration and refinement of automation across industries, delivery robots, drones, and self-driving vehicles will likely handle many of these drop-offs in the future.
Route Optimization
Identifying the quickest and most cost-effective route to handle a list of deliveries is known as route optimization. Finding the optimum route is a difficult task because your driver’s routes usually involve more than two points.
A route optimization program can assist your company in taking into account all of the variables and efficiently planning and scheduling deliveries to your consumers. It guarantees that your product is delivered as fast and affordably as feasible.
Local Warehouses
The closer a fulfillment center is to a customer, the easier it is to shorten delivery times.
Building a warehouse within city borders can be a feasible solution to accelerate last-mile logistics and deliver same-day orders, given that the great majority of consumers live in or near large urban regions.
Another significant advantage of local storage is that it gives businesses easier access to labor pools. Many warehouse employees, like consumers, reside in or near city centers.
So rather than requiring them to commute to suburban areas, local warehouses bring employment closer to home. This idea is particularly better for those who do not possess a car and otherwise rely on public transportation.
Conclusion
We expect the e-commerce business to continue to grow, resulting in greater demand for quick and efficient last-mile delivery.
Enhancing your last-mile delivery performance via crowdsourced deliveries, online tracking, LMD robots, route optimization, and local warehousing is the same as improving your general performance as a business.
You must be able to interact easily with drivers on the day of delivery. You must have visibility into all scheduled and in-progress orders. You must provide transparency to consumers while guaranteeing that your deliveries are completed on time.
You’ll set yourself up for success no matter which distribution technique you choose if you can put all of these puzzle pieces together.