Why Is the Last Mile Delivery So Expensive?

In a logistics marketplace increasingly dependent on automation, customers expect technology to be fast and easy to use. Too often, confusing interfaces and sluggish response times can bog down a  last mile request, costing the customer and delivery provider time and money. 

• Ineffective Route Planning. Last mile deliveries rely on drivers working in various environments, whether that means rush-hour traffic or suburban streets. Poorly planned routes might have a driver spending hours driving a long way to make a furniture delivery when another driver might have easy, efficient access to the intended destination. 
• It’s Subject to a Greater Risk of Damage. In the hubbub of moving day, it can be easy for a tired worker or driver to knock over a lamp or drop a box of fine china. These costs can add up quickly, and delivery companies often pay big money for damage to items. 
• Increased Time on the Roads. Last mile deliveries require drivers to be prepared for whatever the road throws at them. This means spending time stuck in traffic, waiting for a customer to open a gate, or twiddling their thumbs while a train slogs past. This time adds up quickly and can significantly affect last mile delivery costs. 
• Incomplete Deliveries. When a customer utilizes a courier to deliver their groceries but then forgets them on the porch before running an errand, those costs usually fall onto the courier service’s shoulders. 
• There are limited last mile drivers. According to a recent study cited by FreightWaves, “37.8% of last-mile delivery firms said finding qualified drivers to hire is their biggest issue.” This lack of reliable, experienced drivers, combined with an old-fashioned rather than tech-integrated fleet, can force companies into higher last mile delivery costs. 

With high-than-ever last mile delivery costs, it’s clear that the problems faced by last mile and middle mile delivery providers urgently need solutions. The old ways of last mile logistics rely on outdated, inefficient technologies; delivery companies need something new for a reboot.

The Solution to Higher Last Mile Delivery Costs Starts With Integrated Route Planning.

1. By utilizing groundbreaking API technologies, logistics companies can offer their customers an easy-to-use logistics interface, seamlessly integrated into existing website infrastructure and readily available on a customer’s smartphone or tablet. These integrated solutions can provide unprecedented driver visibility and access and allow last mile delivery providers to make real-time decisions to meet real-world demands. 
2. By working with companies that provide industry-leading accountability measures, such as instantly verifiable insurance and proof of delivery, delivery providers can avoid higher last mile delivery costs associated with inevitable accidents. With the ease of mind provided by verifiable insurance, those broken lamps and missing groceries can be dealt with in a way that works for customers and a business’s bottom line. 
3. Easy-to-use applications for a wide range of devices allow drivers to select the best routes, which helps save last mile delivery costs. Last mile and middle mile delivery providers can always access any customer by utilizing a crowdsourced network of qualified drivers. 
4. With a fully tech-integrated delivery platform, last mile and middle mile delivery providers of all sizes can take advantage of new developments in logistics technology. According to a FreightWaves article, “Nearly half of companies (48.9%) still using dedicated scanners […] are open to switching to smartphones.” It’s clear that technology like automatic rerouting for traffic and obstructions, automated alert systems, and tech-enabled accountability are the vital next step for last mile and middle mile delivery providers. 

By partnering with a cutting-edge API service like GoShare that provides a seamlessly integrated interface system across all devices, last mile and middle mile delivery providers can survive and thrive despite rising last mile delivery costs. 

Restore Cost Control in Last Mile Deliveries With GoShare

It’s time for businesses to regain control of the last mile. With GoShare, delivery providers can finally understand and manage their last mile deliveries with the full capacity of a 21st Century, tech-enabled virtual fleet. Contact GoShare to schedule a free demo today and see what tech can do for you. 

The post Causes of and Ways to Overcome Higher Last Mile Delivery Costs appeared first on GoShare.