Businesses understand they have to be able to ship products on time if they’re to survive in this digital world. Why then do so many still underestimate the import of last mile delivery?
We suspect it’s because many aren’t quite familiar with the term. Today we’ll detail what “last mile delivery” means, why it’s important, and offer some solutions if you think your current methods are lacking.
How Does Last Mile Delivery Work?
You likely already know that shipping something doesn’t mean it goes straight from your mailbox to your customer. It goes from the delivery truck or post office to a warehouse (sometimes multiple), and only later does it get sent from a warehouse to the person the package is intended for.
That last stretch of the delivery is the “last mile delivery.” It is when the package is ready to go from the final facility processing and storing it to a customer’s address. (Also, to clarify, it doesn’t literally mean the last mile of the delivery process but rather the “final stretch.”)
Many would argue it’s the most important part of the delivery process, as there is no room for error. Delays or damages at this stage almost guarantee the package will be late. Moreover, more than 1 in 10 customers are estimated to never return to a business that fails to deliver their package on time!
What Is a Last Mile Delivery Company?
While traditional delivery companies (and the USPS) don’t always ignore the last mile, it also isn’t their focus. This is where last mile delivery companies excel.
Last mile delivery companies put an emphasis on perfecting that last part of the delivery process. This helps to tighten up logistical inefficiency and better ensure the customer gets a product on time and undamaged.
It’s also worth noting that this doesn’t mean ignoring the other parts of the delivery process. After all, it doesn’t make sense to ignore some links in a supply chain to perfect the last one. What niches of the delivery chain a given last mile delivery company can also operate in depends on the company in question.
What Is the Last Mile Problem in Logistics?
Last mile delivery services help solve what could be called “the last mile problem” that many companies face.
The fact is, most delivery services aren’t very transparent. It can be difficult to tell what’s happening to your packages and thus hard to catch inefficiencies. Moreover, all problems with deliveries can compound at the last mile unless caught early, where there is no longer time to fix them.
This is part of why many experts view it as a mistake for most companies to promise same-day delivery. It causes so much strain on the average logistical chain that it becomes a promise that may be impossible (or quite expensive) to keep to. Correcting for error becomes almost impossible unless your logistical chain is near perfect.
The last mile problem requires a multi-step solution. Whatever delivery company you go with needs to be transparent, honest, and efficient to help you achieve your delivery needs (and to quickly outline obstacles in your way).
What Is Last Mile Delivery Software?
Last mile delivery software is, as the name implies, software meant to increase the efficiency of last mile delivery. Depending on how robust the software is, it may be able to pool large amounts of useful data on your current processes and help you improve your delivery model.
This all brings us to the last mile delivery solutions that ClearDestination can offer your company. Put simply, ClearDestination has developed cutting-edge logistics solutions that combine operational research, artificial intelligence, machine learning, dispatch automation, advanced algorithms, and location-based technologies to automatically plan the entire delivery process.
That may sound like a big promise (and it is). However, pun not intended, ClearDestination delivers. On top of that, the technology is multimodal and can support the movement of any type of goods.
If you’re curious about this technology and how it may help you, contact us. Not only can any questions be answered, but there is a free demo available! There is no need to take big promises at face value; you can see for yourself.
Our model is essentially crowdsourced, with our technology able to improve as we gather more data from more and more clients. It works fantastic now but that means it will only allow for greater efficiency and cost reduction in the future!
How Can I Reduce My Last Mile Delivery Charge?
Reducing your last mile costs is often a multi-faceted effort. This is because efficiency in one part of the delivery process often translates to the entire process being easier and able to handle more pressure without the need to rush. (Rushing not only increases costs but risks your company damaging or losing goods.)
Every part of the delivery process should be examined when looking to improve efficiency, including:
- Purchase
- Delivery/pick-up
- Pre-delivery
- Delivery
- Post-delivery
- Billing & reporting
Put another way, delivery is about time. Saving time in one part of the process means more care can be put into another. Combined with a good last mile delivery company or robust software to help you further, time saving may be just what you need to help reduce costs.
If you believe you’re overpaying on your last mile delivery specifically, ClearDestination can help. Not only can we help make sure you’re paying competitive rates, but we can also help make sure things are running efficiently. Both these facts together translate to big savings for our clients.
This is all in addition to the aspects of our model meant to address last mile delivery directly. Wherever time and money are being wasted in your delivery process, we can help.
Consider ClearDestination For Your Logistical Needs
ClearDestination can help companies with the entire purchase and delivery process. From the moment the customer adds an item to their cart to billing & reporting, we have the technology to simplify the process. This includes helping make last mile delivery more efficient and data-driven.
With expert staff always trying to grow and innovate, and a free demo available, there is no downside to contacting us today to see why we believe in our logistical solutions. If you’re not yet sure, explore our site and see what else we can offer you!