Last Mile Technology Can Make or Break You

Have you ever stopped and thought to yourself, “I wonder what it would be like to be Jeff Bezos for one second?”

While the e-commerce giant and founder of Amazon.com may be dealing with a few personal issues as of recent, there is no doubt that he and his partners are at the forefront of last mile technology solutions.

So much so, that most companies with an online presence are always trying to emulate that success.

The upper crust of e-commerce domination belongs to organizations like Amazon, who look towards the future of providing superior customer service while optimizing route efficiency, an improving customer communication through all phases of order processing to final delivery.

Technology such as automated services, to push notifications for deliveries, are changing the game. Quite frankly, those who don’t find creative and affordable ways of keeping pace with these giants might find themselves out of business sooner rather than later.

The future of last-mile delivery technology is now. Also, believe it or not, many of the tools that Amazon uses daily is derived from basic technology that could be purchased and customized by third-party logistics companies.

In this blog post, we are going to take a quick peek at the top three technologies that are leveraged in any good last mile efforts.

All three of these platforms are scalable, relatively affordable, and come with a generally high success rate.

How the Last Mile Makes the First Impression

Have you ever heard of the phrase; “A first impression lasts forever?” To be blunt - a customer who orders a product from your website will usually experience their first impression during the final steps of their delivery. This is why last mile efforts are such a crucial part of your logistics operations.

Most last mile deliveries are completed by parcel carriers or independent contractors that deliver on behalf of your company. Their service and ability to deliver on time is a direct reflection of your company and your ability to serve your customer - at least that's what today's customer believes.

In a nutshell, the term "last mile" refers to the final stretch in the journey that your freight makes to your customer.

It is at this point in the delivery that the company can do one of two things. They have the chance to either build up customer loyalty or ruin their reputation.

Today's customer wants their products delivered fast, and on their schedule.

To achieve this, companies are tasked with checking out the most affordable and realistic ways to improve their last mile efforts.

Moreover, this is where last mile technology solutions shine.

Let's take a look at the three most straightforward ways to integrate these technology solutions!

Blockchain

Blockchain technology has recently become a valid contender in the customer service space.

The blockchain allows shipping partners to interact better and will provide customers with more accurate tracking information.

Cloud-Based Platforms

The e-Commerce world uses cloud platforms for the storage benefits it provides. Moreover, since it centralizes all the data it contains, it enables users to access this data remotely.

Additionally, cloud platforms are capable of providing real-time updates about deliveries.

Delivery App Integration

Delivery app platforms empower delivery drivers in a multitude of ways. However, one of the most significant benefits received from delivery app integration is the ability to see when a company has deliveries ready to be assigned and scheduled.

This allows your drivers to get to the warehouse dock, and back on the road as quickly as possible. Needless to say, most independent drivers are always on the hunt for new deliveries to take.

By giving drivers a platform to check regularly, you can improve your shipping times.

Final Thoughts

Last-mile technology is more critical in today's landscape than ever before.

They say that first impressions are everything, but we respectfully beg to differ. In our experience, the end of the experience is just as important as the beginning.

If you are ready to start improving your last-mile efforts, you need to work with a well-rounded 3PL.

Drop us a line here at Redwood Logistics and let us show you how you can give your customers a stellar experience every single time!