Booming e-commerce sales and demand for home delivery have permanently changed the landscape for shippers and transportation providers. Large online retailers set massive expectations for speedy delivery and real-time visibility, creating a customer base that demands products on their doorsteps in hours, not days. Increasing consumer expectations for fast, accurate deliveries requires retailers and transportation providers to consider last mile delivery optimization for the world’s most challenging routes.
Last mile delivery comprises an more than 50% of total shipping costs (and growing!). Last mile presents numerous challenges for routing. High volumes often mean many stops along a route, and stops are more susceptible to minor disruptions like traffic delays. With consumer expectations for on-time delivery at an all-time high, even the smallest, unpredictable delays can result in reduced customer satisfaction and poor brand sentiment.
Overcoming these challenges with dynamic route optimization is critical for today’s shippers and transportation partners.
Last Mile Delivery Optimization for Routes
Last mile delivery optimization ensures that shippers and providers can meet customer demand for visibility and efficiency, while simultaneously managing and offsetting transportation-related expenses.
Last mile delivery is strategically positioned to help improve brand sentiment, create repeat customers, and boost sales, so optimization of the last mile is crucial for long-term success in today’s highly competitive retail market. There are countless ways to customize last mile delivery route optimization to meet a company’s specific needs – consider these examples:
Learn more in our Path to Route Optimization infographic.
Same-Day and Courier Services
High-Value Cargo and Theft Deterrence
Regional Capacity Constraints
Calculate your potential Saving While Using an enterprise TMS
Last Mile Delivery Route Design with TMS Optimization Engines
With the increasing demand for speedy home delivery, today’s retailers and transportation partners recognize the importance of last mile planning and route optimization.
MercuryGate TMS optimization delivers world-class routing design tools for the most complex last mile routes. MercuryGate offers innovative user dashboards, digital tools, and data-backed mobile apps for drivers, carriers, and customers to access live status updates and reports with the click of a button.
These tools provide the ability to instantly acknowledge new pick-ups, adjust delivery schedules, and adapt to changing environmental conditions. Push notifications keep everyone in the network on the same page to ensure seamless delivery for every customer en route.
As a result, fleet managers can save big with first and last mile optimization.
To learn more about how TMS optimization engines are revolutionizing the world’s most complicated routes, download our eBook: Route Design Made Easy.
