Last mile delivery is the key component in a logistical layout which determines the quantum of time that a product or parcel will take to reach out to the end-user. The average time taken to deliver a parcel is inversely proportional to the propensity of a user to stand loyal to the same brand and keep subscribing to its services again and again. Hence longer the wait gets, probability of a user switching its allegiance to a competition brand gets more and more probable.
Last mile delivery, in the context of supply chain management, basically refers to the activity revolving around goods being shipped from the logistic hub in the vicinity of a town or a local warehouse point and delivered to its end destination which is typically either a residential address or an official establishment. The focus is always laid on how to cut down on crucial time allotted for the delivery in order to make the entire exercise less time-consuming. Brand value of a logistical firm lies on how much efficiency it can actually attain by the means of achieving the reputation of delivering parcels at the least possible time. Therefore, it is seen as a business where you have to race against time and the fastest will always come out as triumphant.
In order to become the quickest, one need to recalibrate its operational design with the latest of technology and best of tracking devices while being alert and vigilant to keep a tab on how fast you actually require to run to stay ahead of the competition. So, let's chart out some of the crucial steps, following which a logistic firm can ensure a seamless last mile delivery, putting together the essence of being the fastest and most reliable.
Planning is the key
Proper planning needs to be done, that too well in advance, more in terms of putting a detailed architectural layout of route-map which will plot all the end delivery destinations on the GPS tracker. Based on that, they will assign a fleet of delivery vehicles for the locations in such a manner that most of the destinations can be covered as fastest as possible.
Strong GPS tracking system provides an edge
Excellence in last mile delivery cannot be achieved without a strong and real-time GPS tracking system. Therefore, all the leading logistical firms are already in collaboration with a GPS solution provider to be able to track the traffic conditions of the city roads throughout the day and accordingly make necessary improvisations in the routes maps of their parcels. Using this system, they can navigate the delivery vehicles while they are on their way to reach their destination and ensure that no delay is there in the delivery of goods.
Zero tolerance with breakage of goods
Delivering goods which are in shambles can also jeopardize the reputation of the brand of the logistical firm. So, they should be ready to go to any extent to ensure zero breakage. Efforts ranging from handling the goods with the utmost caution, taking a road which is less bumpy and not full of potholes, to getting the inner walls of the vehicles cushioned against the fragile goods stacked inside, should be put into practice to safe guard the goods from any damage.
Using a fleet of small vehicles instead of jumbo trucks
A small fleet of vehicles is crucial to maneuver the movement of goods through the congestion and heavy traffic within a city. They are critical to the efficacy of last mile delivery.
In the event of the emergence of e-commerce, order volume for almost all the logistic solution providers has gone up significantly. This prompts them to come up with innovative methods in order to be able to deliver on their promises of being on time. There are e-commerce majors who have already gone to the extent of using drone devices to get consignments airdropped on the doorstep of their destination addressees. Therefore, everyone seems to be working on the last mile delivery aspects in order to be able to win the race against the clock that is constantly ticking.
