Last mile delivery: are you ready for the revolution?

Customers demand fast and affordable shipping. If you can’t deliver, they won’t hesitate to look elsewhere.

A major factor influencing shipping success is last mile delivery. It’s the final step in the journey from warehouse to doorstep, and is often the most expensive and complex step of all.

But with the right strategy and the support of powerful last mile delivery software to back you up, you can achieve serious efficiency in this area.

In this article, we’ll talk about:

• What last mile delivery is all about
• Why it’s so important for modern logistics
• How you can streamline the last mile delivery experience with expert solutions

What is Last mile Delivery?

Between the moment a consumer clicks ‘Buy Now’ and the arrival of their new potted plant at their door, a lot of things happen in the background.

Orders are received, packed, and sent out for delivery. Last mile delivery is the final step in that process. It’s that step in the entire supply chain where goods leave the warehouse or transportation hub and are sent to their final delivery destination.

Last mile delivery is widely considered a critical part of the global ecommerce supply chain. Given the exponential growth of ecommerce, there’s huge pressure for businesses to get this step right.

While it sounds like a no brainer, a lot of factors impact your last mile performance. In fact, a so-called “last mile delivery problem” refers to a series of inefficiencies, such as:

• Delays
• Missed or failed deliveries
• Shoddy customer communication
• Excessive shipping costs

These issues eat into your margins and jeopardize customer satisfaction. So what can be done?

Why is the Last Mile Delivery Process So Challenging?

Most people have received a vague notification like, ‘Your package will be delivered between 7am and 10pm’ – even if the item is only travelling a short distance.

Unlike most legs of a shipping journey, last mile delivery involves dozens of stops, shifting destinations, and countless unpredictable variables. A single vehicle might carry 50 packages, each traveling to a different location throughout crowded cities or along remote rural routes.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Other challenges include:

Improve Last Mile Delivery Services with Transvirtual

The last mile delivery process is complex, and getting it right requires the proper tools. For your business to compete in today’s logistics world, using the right technology is critical.

Transvirtual is a fully-featured Transport Management System that simplifies every link in your delivery chain. Here’s how it supports successful delivery:

Delivery management

• Consignment consolidation: Group multiple consignments heading to the same location to maximize efficiency. A single stop, a single signature.
• POD management: Deliver to multiple clients with a single signature and return Proof of Delivery (PoD) to each sender in real time, formatted correctly for each client.
• Live driver alerts: Custom in-app alerts guide your drivers through each step to prevent missed ATL (Authority to Leave), misloads, and misroutes.

Communication

Transvirtual’s notification system triggers real-time updates for your customers, team members, and drivers without manual follow-up. This kind of clear and automated confusion is guaranteed to prevent confusion and delay.

Data and analytics

Tranvirtual captures critical data at every point, from single parcel scans to full-truckload logistics. With customizable dashboards and exportable reports, you can expect:

• Visibility into KPIs like DIFOT (Delivery in Full, On Time)
• Event-based alerts for potential risks
• Insights to help you fine tune your last mile delivery experience

Mobile efficiency

Your drivers can use Transvirtual on their own devices with no extra hardware required. Feature’s they’ll find include:

• Sign-on-glass

• Turn-by-turn navigation

• Geo-tagging and timestamps for 100 percent delivery visibility

• Direct customer communication

And over to you…

We hope this guide has made it clear that the latest technological innovations are the backbone of every successful last mile delivery operation. Of course, we know that choosing and implementing the right technology for your business isn’t easy or simple.

Ready to find out how Transvirtual can help?

• Learn more about implementing a TMS
• Or explore how a TMS can improve your delivery efficiency

Get in touch with the Transvirtual team today for a chat or alternatively you can book a free demo!