The spread of e-commerce and the increase in urban deliveries have placed the problem of the last-mile at the center of the evaluations of companies and customers.
The exponential growth of e-commerce has greatly changed the delivery strategies of companies which, in addition to the internal methods of managing the last mile service, have found themselves having to deal with customer needs and the environmental impact of their operations.
For this fundamental reason, last-mile delivery often constitutes one of the most difficult and expensive moments of the entire supply chain and, therefore, has become the subject of careful strategies by companies to optimize the execution methods.
In fact, if for companies the planning of this activity constitutes a testing ground for testing their management capabilities by reconciling efficiency and profitability objectives, for consumers it represents a fundamental experience in determining their opinion on the product, the brand, and the transport and delivery service provider.
All optimizations, expressed in a highly competitive environment like the current one, can have a profound impact on the credibility of the brand and product, compromising loyalty.
Optimizing last-mile delivery in the UK urban areas
The most common method of delivery adopted for the last mile uses internal structures with Courier Software, which involve the use of a logistics platform for planning and execution.
Courier Software offers breathtaking advantages, first of all the direct control of the company over the entire process, the ability to monitor the goods on a single platform, and a saving of time, operating with fewer steps, which translates into a greater execution speed, fewer delays, and better visibility and safety.
It is also possible to act on costs with advantages for the end customer by exploiting the automation of company operations.
Transport management systems can be integrated, in some cases this is already a reality, with emerging digital technologies ( IoT, artificial intelligence, and learning machine ) to offer greater support to logistics operators in terms of more accurate monitoring and predictive analysis, and to further improve customer service with greater visibility and speed of deliveries.
Optimization and efficiency
The research highlights some areas in which companies and customers are generally showing particular sensitivity. Among these, “proof of delivery” is becoming increasingly widespread in electronic form, which in many countries also has the function of preventing theft, as is the case in the UK itself.
However, the greatest consumer requests focus on the visibility of delivery, in real time, even in the last mile, as well as on the expected speed. The response of the companies, based on the interviews conducted, shows the undoubted recognition of the problem to which, however, only a part of them have found a solution.
According to the Fourkites, viewing the status of the order or shipment is not always possible for the customer, even if approximately half of the sample supports its availability to a significant or very large extent through the digital assistants provided by their organizations. However, a third openly admits that the required visibility is, at the moment, only partially achieved.
Finally, an area of great attention for companies is that of delivery efficiency. In this regard, the greatest concern is to be able to saturate the capacity of one’s carriers to avoid waste which, especially in last mile deliveries, is always possible.
The data that emerges is an average capacity used of 84%, albeit with large fluctuations within a sample that, although it was built on a UK reality, should not differ much, at least on a conceptual level, from that of other geographical areas, including Europe.
The basic consideration is that the greater the use of the capacity of individual carriers, the greater the deliveries will be made with greater profitability. Furthermore, it will be possible to limit the number of trips with fuel savings and lower environmental impact for the benefit of sustainability.
Reasons to choose Courier Software for last-mile
Courier Software has many advantages for last-mile delivery:
1. Pay for what you use in your courier business
Courier Software’s delivery SaaS is suitable for everyone – both for private and professional use, and for both small and large courier companies. The reason for this is that you usually only pay for what you actually need. You don’t have to buy large packages of expensive software, which means you have to pay for more than you need.
2. Updates will be a positive experience
Because the Courier Software is located externally with the supplier, updates and development of the solution are constantly being made that will benefit you without you having to install or download new software.
3. Get security you can trust
By using Courier Software’s last-mile delivery solution, you don’t have to think about security in your own solution. Its providers take security very seriously and work continuously to secure all data you store in the cloud. Good security routines are extremely important for gaining and retaining trust from users, and are therefore also a high priority for Courier Software.
Let’s optimize your courier service
We do the work and the arrangements for the courier service’s software in the cloud. We have all dialogue with the cloud service and are responsible for the necessary support. It is also possible to save a small part of your solution, entrusting a single courier application or solution can be a smart way to ensure delivery operations.
Through the operation of large solutions, Courier Software has already built up great expertise in the area of delivery management and can advise you in the process of choosing the right direction for your solution.
The concept of Courier Software is closely associated with marketing. Optimizing last-mile delivery is defined as a set of procedures and tools important in managing deliveries. In marketing, Courier Software is treated as part of the company’s strategy and operating philosophy, where customer satisfaction is a key value for the courier company.
Thanks to the modular structure, Courier Software can be quickly and easily modified and expanded according to the wishes of our customers. All Courier Software’s projects are original – they are entirely made in our company. We know their structure in detail, which allows us to minimize possible programming errors. The reliability of Courier Software is the reason for the recognition of our work among numerous clients.
Optimizing deliveries in the UK
Technology plays an essential role in tracking orders and optimizing deliveries in the UK. Different stages in the monitoring courier process can be nourished by the use of technology.
First of all, Courier Software centralizes all order information and is essential for efficient order and delivery management. They designate a “digital way to manage the lifecycle of an order” (tracking information and processes, order entry, inventory management, and order fulfillment, after-sales service).
Real-time tracking software tracks the location of deliveries and vehicles in real time and improves route visibility in the last mile .
Finally, automated inventory management solutions help maintain an up-to-date inventory and warn (through alerts) when stock levels are decreasing, preventing stock-outs and making the inventory manager’s job easier.
The impact of technology in streamlining the monitoring process is therefore multiple. It allows you to manage schedules and orders more efficiently, while having an overall view of stock. It makes it possible to improve courier’s customer satisfaction, but also to reduce the environmental impact by reducing route distances and rationalizing them to reduce the number of delivery people mobilized. It greatly facilitates the work of SMEs and delivery people in managing routes, and makes it possible to take into account and reduce the daily workload of delivery people.
Conclusion
The last-mile stage of delivery is very fundamental because it is the final stage that creates direct contact between the courier and the final destination. If problems occur at this stage, the goods may be damaged, thrown away unintentionally, or arrive late at their final destination. Therefore, optimizing last-mile delivery in the UK urban areas is very crucial.
The awesome advantage of Courier Software is that it provides fast and high-quality services by improving the efficiency of order processing. This leads to customer satisfaction because it focuses on continuous improvement of transportation processes. Organizing the flow of goods can affect the courier company’s profitability and business growth. Correct and timely delivery of orders is helpful in achieving operational efficiency.
