It is commonly used in logistics and express deliveries to point out the last leg of transporting ordered goods from the local carrier’s office/ facility to the recipient’s address and final delivery. The last mile implies the part of an express delivery requiring the last leg of its journey, which is usually the final stretch between a distribution hub or point-of-call and the customer/recipient’s address.
Typically, last-mile logistics describe the transportation of goods to a location where they are passed to the end customer (a home). With technological advances in transportation and communications such as bikes, cars, drones, and autonomous vehicles, there is much research into how these might be used to reduce the cost or time for this last mile.
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Last mile is expensive but initial
The “last mile” is often one of the most expensive portions of logistics, and it is typically part of a larger supply chain for the delivery of goods. This last distance can be as small as several pallets to hundreds of miles when the final destination is in another state or across an ocean.
The “Last Mile” describes the last leg of a journey. This is typically for local deliveries, but not limited to only that. The “Last Mile” also applies to long-range deliveries when delivering goods nationally or internationally.
The last mile can be very expensive for delivery companies because it requires numerous vehicles and drivers, has less potential for revenue due to low weight and volume, and is often more dangerous for drivers due to the lack of space on city roads.
Delivering a shipment over the last mile can be very difficult with the current infrastructure system. Most deliveries are done with a single driver per vehicle, which takes hours, if not days, to complete. These deliveries are also less profitable for delivery companies because of the small amount being delivered.
Since the beginning of civilization, logistics have been around, but advancements in technology have allowed for more efficient processes over the last few years.
One example is smart-trucking, which allows truck-fleet operators to use software that optimizes their speed, route, and stops based on variables such as traffic conditions.
All over the world, demand for home delivery has been overgrowing due to e-commerce allowing retailers to offer more products online. To meet this increase in demand, last-mile courier services have been seen as viable for retailers looking to provide same-day deliveries.
As technology advances, logistics companies will have new opportunities to utilize the last mile more efficiently, allowing for rapid deliveries directly to consumers. This means that instead of orders taking days or minutes, they could be delivered in hours or even minutes.
