In today’s world, it is crucial that businesses provide customers with the best and fastest delivery service. Last-mile delivery ensures that businesses avoid the common issues that affect customer service and we will discuss some of the industries that have started using last-mile delivery to improve their delivery process.
Last-mile delivery benefits
Last-mile delivery or final mile delivery refers to the journey that a product takes from the warehouse shelf, to getting on the road at the back of a truck until it reaches its final destination which is usually the customer’s doorstep. The businesses that choose to use last-mile delivery can expect the following benefits:
- Increases shipment visibility
Visibility is the most common challenge when it comes to the delivery process. Last-mile delivery ensures that businesses have real-time visibility about the location of their delivery vehicles, whether the vehicles are using a route different from the one that was planned and how much time vehicles spend idling. Through having real-time visibility, businesses will be able to have better control over their fleet. - Delivery routes optimization
Last-mile delivery enables businesses to optimize their delivery routes in real-time, which enables them to avoid any delays that might occur on the road. The drivers on the road will receive updates about the best routes that will ensure that deliveries are faster. - Greater customer engagement
From the time that customers place orders, they will be able to gain end-to-end visibility regarding the status of their orders. Customers will constantly receive delivery information until their orders reach their doorstep. Engaging customers throughout the delivery process ensures that you increase the customer’s trust in your brand. - Transparency
Last-mile delivery ensures that supply chain owners can see when orders were placed, who placed them, who will deliver the order as well as when delivers can be expected to be delivered. - Increases Profitability
Businesses who use last-mile delivery will be able to optimize their routes, increase their customer loyalty, boost their fleet productivity, reduce fuel consumption and ensure customer retention and all these factors ensure that businesses increase their profitability.
Industries adopting last-mile delivery
Businesses have realized that in order to remain profitable and maintain customer retention, they need to make their delivery process better which is essential nowadays. There are many industries that have started using last-mile delivery as they have seen the benefits of implementing last-mile delivery and these industries include:
Retail
Retail businesses have started facing pressure to offer the best delivery process, especially because they face greater demand. It has become a priority for retail businesses to offer faster delivery options, such as next-day delivery. However, it can be expensive for the average shipper to offer quicker delivery without incurring extra costs. Last-mile delivery ensures that retail businesses can offer their customers with quicker deliveries while also increasing transparency without them incurring higher costs. Last-mile delivery is also essential for retailers because it offers them scalability since they tend to experience fluctuations in orders, such as during holidays or when they are running promotions. Last-mile delivery ensures that they can scale when demand does fluctuate ensuring that customers receive their packages on time.
Furniture
There has been growth in sales for furniture and when it comes to furniture, it is essential to offer fast and damage-free delivery regardless of what customers order. When it comes to delivering furniture to customers, it requires a lot more attention as things such as fragile lighting fixtures, bathroom vanities and oversized couches require special care and more people to get them to their final destination. Last-mile delivery has become essential when it comes to the delivery of furniture as it ensures that customers receive fast delivery and that they are engaged in the delivery process, increasing customer satisfaction.
Floral
Flowers are incredibly vulnerable to spoiling when they are not given the right vehicle to deliver them as the vehicles used need to be temperature-controlled. Flowers also need to be handled with care as using a vehicle that is too small could damage them. Customers lately also require real-time tracking of their deliveries so florists need to ensure that they can offer their customers with real-time tracking or they run the risk of losing customers with them possibly declining sales if they don’t offer this option. Last-mile delivery assists florists as it manages logistical data and offers real-time tracking taking away the common issues that they face during the delivery process.
Electronics
The technology and electronics industry constantly moves equipment that is fragile, therefore, the delivery process can either make or break the business if the products arrive broken; especially if they are not packaged properly. However, last-mile delivery companies understand how products can be delivered without being damaged. Last-mile delivery ensures that packages are delivered in good condition to their final destination. It also ensures that packages are kept closed so that they are not harmed by other factors, such as intense sunshine or moisture.
Conclusion
More and more industries have started embracing last-mile delivery due to its business benefits. Last-mile delivery ensures that businesses within any industry can offer their customers an improved service and that they increase their chances of making a repeat purchase.