Online shopping has made it easier than ever for consumers to get the products they want. With a few clicks of a mouse, a person can purchase something from a local shop or a warehouse on the other side of the world. No matter how far a package travels, the final phase of its journey—the “last mile”—is generally considered to be the most challenging part of the delivery.
Is the last mile of delivery actually a mile?
Not necessarily. Logistics and delivery professionals use the term “last mile delivery” to refer to the last stage in the transportation of a package before it reaches the consumer’s doorstep. This distance might be only a few blocks, or it could be dozens of miles.
Why is last mile delivery so important?
For businesses, the most pressing concern is customer satisfaction. A customer who is waiting for a package might track it and see that it’s “out for delivery.” But if that package continues to be “out for delivery” for a long time, the customer gets impatient and may develop a negative perception of the company and its brand.
What are the unique challenges of last mile delivery?
Last mile delivery presents challenges both in rural areas and urban environments. In rural areas, delivery points tend to be far-flung. A driver may go for quite a ways between each package drop-off. Although delivery points tend to be closer together in urban environments, there’s another challenge: Traffic congestion that can dramatically slow down deliveries.
What’s the cost percentage of last mile delivery?
Although the last phase in a delivery might comprise the shortest distance that the package travels, it still accounts for a significant percentage of the total delivery costs. According to Business Insider, last mile delivery accounts for 53% of the overall shipping costs. This is why logistics experts are continually looking for improvements and new technologies to enhance efficiency.
For deliveries both near and far, your business can count on Xcel Delivery Services to help your customers have a positive purchasing experience. Our professional drivers offer last mile and long-distance delivery services. Just call our office in Phoenix at (602) 368-1300, and let us know how we can help you.
