More than 80 percent of the American population regularly shops online. We are a nation that is addicted to the ease and convenience of online shopping. And when we place an order, we generally want to see the package arrive in as little as two days.
This final delivery to the end-user of a product is known as the last mile. Your products have traveled the world, originating with the manufacturer. The last mile is the moment that your customer receives the products they purchase.
And the last mile is also the most important mile in the whole journey, as it will ultimately dictate the customer experience.
Wondering why the last mile is so important, and how you can make the most of your logistics planning processes? Keep reading below to find out now.
Logistics Process
Successful logistics management begins with a thorough understanding of how your products move around the globe. There are three main steps that your products take once they are manufactured.
The first mile is when your manufacturer sends your completed products to your warehouse. Once an order is placed, the products move from a warehouse to a distribution center. This is the middle mile.
Lastly, the product is finally loaded up onto a truck at the distribution center and eventually dropped off with your customer. This is the last mile, and the most important.
Importance of the Last Mile
So why is last mile delivery so important? Because it’s the only part of the delivery process that your customers experience.
Once they place an order, the clock starts ticking. You may have an extremely optimized first and middle-mile logistics planning process, but if you mess up on the last mile, then the customer will be disappointed and look elsewhere next time.
Customers will choose businesses and third-party logistics providers (couriers) who prioritize the last mile experience. Customers want fast, reliable shipping times.
They want to be able to track their shipments online with the click of a button. They want to include delivery instructions to ensure the safety of their parcel.
And they want all of that to happen without any complications, delays, or lost packages.
Last Mile for Businesses
The last mile isn’t just for consumers. The B2B industry is just as dependent on last-mile deliveries. And because orders and shipments are much larger, the importance of last-mile efficiency is even greater.
As a business shipping large quantities of materials and products to other businesses, you have more options when it comes to logistics providers. You aren’t going to use UPS or FedEx to deliver pallets to your commercial clients.
You need a proper trucking company that has an advanced routing network that can get your goods to any part of the country. And they need to offer the flexibility your business needs, such as shared trucks, loose freight, pallets, and more.
If you’re hoping to offer the best service to your customers, then look here for help in choosing a trucking provider.
Last Mile Done Right
It doesn’t matter if you’re shipping a pack of pencils to a residential customer or 10 pallets of pencils to a commercial customer, the last mile is what gets your products to their end-user.
Optimizing the last mile experience for your customer is an investment you need to be willing to make if you want satisfied customers and repeat business.
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