Skip to main content
  • login
  • contact
  • language
    • English
    • Français
    • Español
    • Português
    • Deutsch
    • 简体中文
    • 日本語
  • search
X
GEP Logo GEP Logo
  • Company
    • Leadership
    • Customers
    • Partners
    • Sustainability at GEP
    • News
    • Events
    • Culture
    • Mission & Vision
    • Awards & Recognition
  • Solutions
    • Strategy
      • Procurement Consulting  
        • Procurement Transformation
        • Digital Procurement Transformation
        • Opportunity Assessment
        • M & A Services
        • Strategic Cost Management
        • Supply Risk Management
      • Supply Chain Consulting  
        • Environmental, Social and Governance
        • Socially Responsible Sourcing
        • Supply Chain Strategy
        • Supply Chain Diagnostics
        • Inventory Optimization
        • Network Optimization
      Software
      • GEP SMART  
        • Procurement Software
        • Direct Procurement Software
        • Indirect Procurement Software
        • Digital Procurement Transformation
        • Master Data Management
        • AP Automation
        • Spend Management
        • SMART S2P Technology
      • GEP NEXXE  
        • Supply Chain Visibility and Execution
        • Supply Chain Planning
        • Supply Chain Collaboration
        • Supply Chain Control Tower
        • Should-Cost Modeling
        • Inventory and Warehouse Management
      • GEP CLICK  
      • GEP MINERVA  
      Managed Services
      • Procurement Outsourcing  
        • Source-to-Contract
          • Spend Analysis
          • Strategic Sourcing
          • Category Management
          • Supply Market Intelligence
          • Tail-Spend Management
          • Procurement Support Services
        • Procure-to-Pay
          • Cost Recovery & Invoice Auditing
          • Accounts Payable
      • Supply Chain Outsourcing  
        • Planning & Forecasting
        • Inventory Management
        • Logistics Management
        • Supply Chain Data Management
        • Supply Chain Risk Management
  • Industries
    • Automotive
    • Chemicals
    • Consumer Packaged Goods
    • Energy & Utilities
    • Financial Services
    • Government & Nonprofit
    • Industrial Manufacturing
    • Life Sciences
    • Oil & Gas
    • Retail
    • Telecommunications, Media & Technology
    • High-Tech
    • Media & Entertainment
    • Software, Social & Platforms
    • Telecom
    • Travel & Hospitality
  • Knowledge Bank
    • Digital Transformation
    • Software & Technology
    • Strategy & Planning
    • Operations
    • Procurement
    • Sustainability
    • Insights From the Top
    • COVID-19 Resource Center
    • Inflation Strategies
  • Careers
    • Join Us
    • GEP Per Se
    • Campus Connect
  • Partners
   
  • GEP Strategy ›
    • GEP Strategy
    • ‹ Back
      • Procurement Consulting ›
        • Procurement Consulting
        • ‹ Back
          • Procurement Transformation ›
            • Procurement Transformation
            • ‹ Back
              • Procurement Strategy
              • Org. Design & Implementation
              • Capability Building
              • Change Management
              • Governance & Performance
              • Processes & Policies
              • S2P Operations
              • Sourcing & Category Management
              • Technology
          • Digital Procurement Transformation
          • Opportunity Assessment
          • M&A Services ›
            • M&A Services
            • ‹ Back
              • M&A Clean Room
          • Strategic Cost Management ›
            • Strategic Cost Management
            • ‹ Back
              • Zero-Based Budgeting
          • Supply Chain Risk Management
      • Supply Chain Consulting ›
        • Supply Chain Consulting
        • ‹ Back
          • SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE
          • Environmental, Social and Governance
          • Socially Responsible Sourcing
          • Scope 3
          • PLAN
          • Digital Planning, S&OP, S&OE
          • Collaborative Planning
          • PROCURE
          • Source To Contract
          • Procure To Pay
          • MAKE
          • Inventory Strategy & Management
          • Operations & Manufacturing Excellence
          • DELIVER
          • Network Strategy & Optimization
          • Warehousing & Transportation Management
  • GEP Software ›
    • GEP Software
    • ‹ Back
      • GEP SMART ›
        • GEP SMART
        • ‹ Back
          • Procurement Software
          • Direct Procurement Software ›
            • Direct Procurement Software
            • ‹ Back
              • Bill of Materials Management
              • Data Analytics & Reporting
              • Inventory Management
              • Master Data Management
              • Quality Management
              • Supplier Collaboration Portal
              • Supply Chain Operations
          • Indirect Procurement Software ›
            • Indirect Procurement Software
            • ‹ Back
              • Source-to-Contract
              • Spend Analysis
              • Savings Project Management
              • Category Management
              • Contract Management
              • Savings Tracking
              • Sourcing
              • Supplier Management
              • Procure-to-Pay
              • Guided Buying
              • Procurement Portal
              • Catalog Management
              • Order Processing
              • Invoice Management
          • Digital Procurement Transformation
          • Master Data Management
          • Product Accessibility
          • AP Automation
          • Spend Management
          • SMART S2P Technology
      • GEP NEXXE ›
        • GEP NEXXE
        • ‹ Back
          • Supply Chain Visibility and Execution ›
            • Supply Chain Visibility and Execution
            • ‹ Back
              • Inventory and Warehouse Management
              • Logistics Visibility
              • Control Tower
          • Supply Chain Planning ›
            • Supply Chain Planning
            • ‹ Back
              • Supply Chain Control Tower
              • Should-Cost Modeling
              • Demand Planning
              • Supply Chain Bill of Materials
              • Supply Chain Direct Sourcing
              • Supply Planning
          • Supply Chain Collaboration ›
            • Supply Chain Collaboration
            • ‹ Back
              • Forecast Collaboration
              • Purchase Order Collaboration
              • Quality Collaboration
              • Capacity Collaboration
              • Quality Management Software
          • Supply Chain Control Tower
          • Should-Cost Modeling
          • Inventory and Warehouse Management
      • GEP CLICK
      • GEP MINERVA
      • Innovation ›
        • Innovation
        • ‹ Back
          • Emerging Technologies
          • Native to Cloud
          • Native to Mobile
          • One Unified Platform
          • Security
          • User-Centric Design
  • GEP Managed Services ›
    • GEP Managed Services
    • ‹ Back
      • Procurement Outsourcing ›
        • Procurement Outsourcing
        • ‹ Back
          • Source-to-Contract
          • Spend Analysis
          • Strategic Sourcing ›
            • Strategic Sourcing
            • ‹ Back
              • MRO
              • CAPEX
              • Logistics
              • Packaging
              • IT & Telecom
              • Energy
              • Direct Materials
          • Category Management ›
            • Category Management
            • ‹ Back
              • Contract Management
              • Supplier Performance Management
              • Savings & Compliance Tracking
          • Supply Market Intelligence
          • Tail-Spend Management
          • Procurement Support Services ›
            • Procurement Support Services
            • ‹ Back
              • eSourcing
              • Supplier Performance Management
              • Savings & Compliance Tracking
              • Sourcing Support
          • Procure-to-Pay
          • Cost Recovery & Invoice Auditing
          • Accounts Payable
      • Supply Chain Outsourcing ›
        • Supply Chain Outsourcing
        • ‹ Back
          • Planning & Forecasting
          • Inventory Management
          • Logistics Management
          • Supply Chain Data Management
          • Supply Risk Management
  • Industries ›
    • Industries
    • ‹ Back
      • Automotive
      • Chemicals
      • Consumer Packaged Goods
      • Energy & Utilities
      • Financial Services
      • Government & Nonprofit
      • Industrial Manufacturing
      • Life Sciences
      • Oil & Gas
      • Retail
      • Telecommunications, Media & Technology
      • High-Tech
      • Media & Entertainment
      • Software, Social & Platforms
      • Telecom
      • Travel & Hospitality
  • Knowledge Bank ›
    • Knowledge Bank
    • ‹ Back
      • Digital Transformation
      • Operations
      • Procurement
      • Software & Technology
      • Strategy & Planning
      • Sustainability
      • Podcasts
      • Insights from the Top
      • COVID-19 Resource Center
      • Inflation Strategies
  • Company ›
    • Company
    • ‹ Back
      • Leadership
      • Customers
      • Partners
      • Sustainability at GEP
      • News
      • Events
      • Culture ›
        • Culture
        • ‹ Back
          • GEP Core Values
          • Women@GEP
          • Diversity
          • GEP Cares
      • Mission & Vision
      • Awards & Recognition
      • Contact Us
  • Global Presence ›
    • Global Presence
    • ‹ Back
      • Americas ›
        • Americas
        • ‹ Back
          • English
          • Español
          • Portugués
      • Europe ›
        • Europe
        • ‹ Back
          • English
          • Deutsch
      • Asia-Pacific ›
        • Asia-Pacific
        • ‹ Back
          • English
          • 中文
      • Middle East ›
        • Middle East
        • ‹ Back
          • English
          • العربية
  • Contact Us
  • Careers ›
    • Careers
    • ‹ Back
      • Join Us
      • GEP Per Se
      • Campus Connect
  • Language ›
    • Language
    • ‹ Back
      • English
      • Français
      • Español
      • Deutsch
      • Português
      • 简体中文
      • 日本語
  • Rapid Response from GEP
  • BLOGS
  • Strategy
  • Technology
  • MIND
Contact Us
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Breadcrumb

  1. HOME
  2. BLOG
  3. STRATEGY
  4. LAST MILE DELIVERY STRATEGIES AND BENEFITS
Blog Image

Last Mile Delivery: How Can Businesses Benefit from It?

  • Last mile delivery has become a key area of focus in a rapidly evolving business landscape
  • Done right, this can help a business enhance as well as customize the customer experience
  • It can also help business leadership to identify new ways to drive growth

October 11, 2022 | Supply Chain Strategy Blogs

Many companies have seen a significant increase in e-commerce sales after the onset of the pandemic and resulting lockdowns. This, along with growing consumer demand and increased competition among retailers, has led companies to shorten lead times, increase warehousing space and improve customer service in general.

As a result, last mile delivery has become a key area of focus - one that can help a business gain a distinct competitive advantage.

What Is Last Mile Delivery?

Last mile delivery is the final stage of supply chain distribution that involves transporting goods from the manufacturer or warehouse to the point of consumption.

Businesses face several challenges as they try to figure out ways to better deliver customer service.

  • Issues for last mile fulfillment can include pick-and-pack complexity, automated solutions, or the internet of things to move products from place to place automatically.
  • Last mile delivery of goods often includes innovative technology such as autonomous vehicles or drones. The use of technology helps manage the complexity and cost while creating faster deliveries and tighter delivery windows.
  • Customers demand better customer service with more flexible and timely deliveries. There are various options for efficiency in delivery, including things like climate control and same-time changing locations.

Effective Last Mile Strategies

Here are a few ways to improve customer experience during last mile delivery.

1. Provide Omnichannel Fulfilment

Having a variety of options for fulfillment has now become vital. Some retailers offer curbside pickup, buy online and pick up in store, shipping from the store, shipping to the store, or endless aisles that combine physical and virtual experiences.

2. Provide a Flexible Delivery Date

Consumers want to have complete control over the delivery date of their items. It's essential to offer same-day delivery and give customers the option of ordering weeks in advance for specific items, such as furniture or home décor.

3. Allow Real-Time Transparency

Consumers demand real-time transparency and communication throughout the order fulfillment lifecycle. They want to know the status of their orders - when they are being prepared for shipment, when they are shipped, where a load is at any moment and the estimated delivery time.

4. Ensure Contactless delivery

Retailers need to digitize the delivery process as much as possible. For example, grocery and clothing items can be left at the customer’s front door.

5. Promote Cross-Functional Intelligence

Associates must have several tools at their disposal, including real-time intelligence. It helps retailers and 3PL partners to be well-informed about their shoppers' needs and build trust and loyalty with them.

Scope of Last Mile Delivery

The scope of last mile delivery can be described in five points:

1. With the help of a company's last mile strategy, leadership can assess what methods they would like to use to support their growth

2. With the right strategy in place, leadership can be better equipped to manage the resources internally and externally for the best outcome possible for the business.

3. It's essential to consider sectors and seasonality to determine where investment (buy or build) may be most necessary and beneficial.

4. Innovation can lead to transformation in industry, but companies need to have a way to support their customers should they change preferences. As many companies are now investing in the direct-to-consumer model, pressure is mounting to keep up with the competition.

5. Failure to effectively plan for last mile delivery can have implications for other parts of the business and limit it from expanding.

Additional Read: Will the Direct-To-Consumer Model Eliminate Retailers in E-Commerce?

Benefits of Last Mile Strategy

By developing an effective strategy for last mile delivery, organizations can see many benefits, such as:

  • Organizations can save money and time with a solution that enables them to tap into their customer base.
  • Organizations can customize the customer experience and provide visibility for increased flexibility in delivery.
  • Through improved processes and optimized routes, you can reduce the total cost of last mile delivery logistics while reducing waste.
  • To successfully get customers into their store, retailers must acknowledge and address the different barriers. One of these barriers is that decision-making can be complex without reliable data.
  • With limited system infrastructure, providing a holistic report related to all aspects of the business can be difficult.

Conclusion

Last mile delivery is a crucial part of the logistics process, and its efficiency can make or break a business. There are many factors to consider when trying to improve last mile delivery, but the most important thing is to focus on the customer experience. By making sure that customers are happy with the service they receive, businesses can ensure that they keep coming back for more.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can a business improve efficiency in last mile delivery?

You can do a few things to improve efficiency in last mile delivery. One is to have a clear and concise plan for delivery. This means knowing the route, the estimated arrival time and what needs to be delivered. Another way to improve efficiency is to use technology to your advantage. This can include using GPS tracking to plan the most efficient route and apps to track deliveries. Finally, it is essential to stay organized and focused while making deliveries. It means keeping track of where you are and what needs to be delivered.

What are the ways to improve last mile delivery?

The best way to improve last mile delivery is to use a multimodal approach. This means using multiple modes of transportation to get to the final destination. This can include using public transit, ridesharing, walking, or biking. Each person's situation is different, so it's essential to have many options available. This way, people can choose the best option based on their needs and preferences.

 

Tags: Last mile delivery

Add Comment +

FEATURED POST

...
Supply Chain Strategy Blogs

How to Effectively Monitor Scope 3 Emission Reporting From Your Supply Chain

...
Supply Chain Software Blogs

From Cost to Resiliency: How Supply Chain Priorities Have Changed

    BLOG CATEGORIES

  • Supply Chain Strategy Blogs
  • Procurement Strategy Blogs
  • Sourcing Strategy Blogs
  • Miscellaneous Blogs
  • Risk Management Blogs
  • Supplier Management Strategy Blogs
  • M&A Blogs
  • Supply Chain Risk Management Blogs
  • Cost Management Blogs
  • Digital Supply Chain Transformation Blogs
  • Inventory Management Blogs
  • Inventory Management

TAGS

sustainability
Procurement Software
supply chain strategy
Inflation
Russia-Ukraine War

By checking the box below, you consent to GEP using your personal information to send you thought leadership content – such as white papers, research reports, case studies – and other communications. GEP representatives may contact you to provide additional information or answer questions.

If at any point in time you decide to withdraw your consent, you may unsubscribe by emailing your request to us at privacy@gep.com.

Please refer to the GEP Privacy Statement to understand how we manage and protect your personal information.

Terms of Use | Privacy Statement

Contact Us

Ask Us

Send us your question(s)

RFP

Request for a business proposal

Feedback

Share your thoughts, comments and suggestions

Demo

Schedule a live demo of our software

Discover
STRATEGY
Strategy
  •   Procurement Consulting
  •   Digital Procurement Transformation
  •   Strategic Cost Management
  •   Opportunity Assessment
  •   Supply Chain Risk Management
  •   Supply Chain Consulting
  •   Supply Chain Strategy
  •   Supply Chain Diagnostics
  •   Inventory Optimization
  •   Procurement Transformation
  •   Sustainability and ESG Consulting
SOFTWARE
Software
  •   Procurement Software
  •   Supply Chain Software
  •   Source-to-Contract
  •   Procure-to-Pay
  •   Supply Chain Planning
  •   Supply Chain Collaboration
  •   Supply Chain Visibility & Execution
  •   Supply Chain Control Tower
  •   Should-Cost Modeling
  •   Inventory & Warehouse Management Software
  •   Source-To-Pay Software
MANAGED SERVICES
Managed Services
  •   Procurement Outsourcing
  •   Strategic Sourcing
  •   Tail-Spend Management
  •   Category Management
  •   Procurement Support Services
  •   Supply Chain Outsourcing
  •   Supply Chain Planning & Forecasting
  •   Inventory Management
  •   Logistics Management
COMPANY
Company
  •   About Us
  •   Leadership
  •   Customers
  •   Sustainability at GEP
  •   Careers
  •   News
  •   Awards
  •   Partners
  •   Contact Us

Fresh Insights, Now on Your Phone

  • Dowmload On The App Store Button
Stay Connected
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Latest Tweets

  • Conquering 2023 Supply Chain Setback - 31 Jan 2023 https://t.co/wg0MdRATfh

  • On the occasion of Republic Day in India, GEP Hyderabad held an art competition and GEPpers showed their creativity… https://t.co/NSHrXILbiv

  • We're proud to announce the extension of our #procurement services agreement with @Macys's Inc. to help drive… https://t.co/Hgn4uaGbW0

  • The #SupplyChain and #procurement #software market is in flux amid #MnA. If your software provider gets acquired, w… https://t.co/orQlKUZB4X

  • #SupplyChain #disruptions are a reality in today's unpredictable world. Learn how @gepsoftware has helped #SGS resp… https://t.co/jA2GnbWIBg

  • What steps can companies take to achieve #ESG goals effectively? Well, they can start with #procurement. Learn how… https://t.co/HGEfNyGdeD

  • #ElectricVehicles are a key part of the auto industry's plan to become #NetZero by 2050. But EVs aren't enough on t… https://t.co/YlEoys6vTA

  • Why did Asahi choose #GEP as their #procurement and #SupplyChain partner? Check out this video featuring Carmen Rad… https://t.co/RmstcfJXtm

  • GEPpers know how to have a good time! Check out a glimpse of our Winter Party at the GEP Prague office. We are hir… https://t.co/BqVK6XkpHv

  • #Inflation has dampened expectations for GDP growth and raised the risks of a #recession. What can #procurement lea… https://t.co/Hn1R5bxZXn

  • 4D seismic #technology is opening deep-sea #OilAndGas reserves for exploration, lowering costs and optimizing reser… https://t.co/Omq51vlEq7

  • The #GEP Europe Outlook 2023 Roadshow is coming to a city near you! Join us to learn the seven critical priorities… https://t.co/Hzv68et4Rr

  • GEP wishes a Happy Republic Day to all the Indians around the world.  We are #hiring. Explore our careers section:… https://t.co/RKTsyBfQFc

  • Sustainability Outlook for 2023: Trends, Insights and Actions 25 Jan 2023 https://t.co/58KIepy577

  • #Pharma companies are reshoring production, but shortages of active pharmaceutical ingredients make it a challenge.… https://t.co/a3uQJhn7tx

  • With uncertainty looming over 2023, there’s no end in sight to the challenges for #SupplyChain and #Procurement lea… https://t.co/O9tWELnt2i

  • Tight timelines and #COVID-related uncertainties made post-merger data ecosystem #convergence a tricky task for thi… https://t.co/RY6du0AP1D

  • Discover the keys to operating a strategic #procurement and supply function at an essential #PetroChemicals company… https://t.co/sJZmqhnWvS

© Copyright GEP 2022. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Statement | Cookie Policy |   | Quality Policy | GEP Logo