{"id":60775,"date":"2023-06-19T09:56:38","date_gmt":"2023-06-19T08:56:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/?p=60775"},"modified":"2026-01-13T10:42:01","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T09:42:01","slug":"last-mile-delivery-the-ultimate-logistics-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/last-mile-delivery-the-ultimate-logistics-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"Last-mile delivery: the ultimate logistics challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\">[vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1734429144751{margin-top: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243; el_class=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs Extra Small Screen vc_hidden-sm Small Screen&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;10\/12&#8243;][vc_row_inner el_class=&#8221;vc_row-2&#8243;][vc_column_inner el_class=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs Extra Small Screen vc_hidden-sm Small Screen&#8221; width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;10\/12&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1734429133402{margin-top: 5px !important;}&#8221;]<a style=\"text-decoration: none; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 500;\" href=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/blog\/\">Blog<\/a> &gt; <a style=\"text-decoration: none; color: #551cb0; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 500;\" href=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/blog\/delivery\/\">Delivery<\/a>\u00a0&gt; <span style=\"color: #a7a7a7; font-size: 18px;\">Last-mile delivery: the ultimate logistics challenge<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]\n<h1>Last-mile delivery: the ultimate logistics challenge<\/h1>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\n<p class=\"text-head\" style=\"color: #424762; font-size: 16px;\">Published on <span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">19 June 2023<\/span> <span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\"> \u2022 Reading time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 7<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">min read<\/span><\/span>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-60777\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"847\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-1.jpg 1629w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-1-300x159.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-1-1024x542.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-1-768x406.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-1-1536x813.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-1-260x138.jpg 260w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-1-50x26.jpg 50w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-1-142x75.jpg 142w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs Extra Small Screen vc_hidden-sm Small Screen&#8221; width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner el_class=&#8221;vc_row-2&#8243;][vc_column_inner el_class=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs Extra Small Screen vc_hidden-sm Small Screen&#8221; width=&#8221;2\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;8\/12&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]Boosted by the rise of e-commerce and our changing lifestyles, last-mile delivery continues to gain ground.<br \/>\nBut this service, which is so popular with consumers, is increasingly expensive for companies, cities, and the environment.<br \/>\nHow can we meet ever-increasing customer expectations without compromising profitability or the environment? AntsRoute takes a look at these key issues, and at the main solutions being tried out by professionals.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Table of contents<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist-3\">\n<li><a href=\"#last-mile-delivery-1\"><u>What is the \u201clast mile\u201d?<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#last-mile-delivery-2\"><u>The 3 major challenges of last-mile logistics<\/u><\/a>\n<ol id=\"imglist-3\">\n<li style=\"margin-top: 10px;\"><a href=\"#last-mile-delivery-3\"><u>Maintain and improve profitability<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#last-mile-delivery-4\"><u>Reduce the carbon footprint of transport<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#last-mile-delivery-5\"><u>Meet customer expectations and build loyalty<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#last-mile-delivery-6\"><u>5 realistic solutions to optimise your last-mile deliveries<\/u><\/a>\n<ol id=\"imglist-3\">\n<li style=\"margin-top: 10px;\"><a href=\"#last-mile-delivery-7\"><u>Pooling flows<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#last-mile-delivery-8\"><u>Optimising delivery routes with dedicated software<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#last-mile-delivery-9\"><u>Encouraging out-of-home delivery<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#last-mile-delivery-10\"><u>Turning home delivery into a great experience<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#last-mile-delivery-11\"><u>Reducing the carbon footprint of your delivery fleet<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"summary-block\"><strong>Last-mile delivery<\/strong> is a critical challenge for today&#8217;s urban logistics. For transport and courier companies, the use of innovative software is a guarantee of meeting consumer expectations while reducing environmental impact.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"last-mile-delivery-1\"><span id=\"What_is_the_last_mile\">What is the \u201clast mile\u201d?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The last mile is the <strong>final link in the supply chain<\/strong>, connecting the last store or warehouse to the final consignee.<\/p>\n<p>In practice, the last mile is often much longer than 1,000 meters, especially when the end customer lives in a rural area.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Last-mile delivery<\/strong> has been a fast-growing sector since the 2000s, driven by several factors:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>The e-commerce boom. The increase in online shopping has led to a <a href=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/urban-logistics-how-to-take-up-the-last-mile-challenge\/#urban-logistics-2\"><u>rise in the number of parcels, estimated at 35% per year<\/u><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>The changing business practices. More and more companies are offering home delivery, including local retailers.<\/li>\n<li>Customers who want to receive their packages ever faster, to the point of requiring deliveries in less than 2 hours. Some economists even speak of the \u201cQuick Commerce\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_60787\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-60787\" class=\"wp-image-60787\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-8.jpg\" alt=\"A woman validates the receipt of a package by signing on the deliveryman's phone.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1053\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-8.jpg 1739w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-8-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-8-1024x674.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-8-768x506.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-8-1536x1011.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-8-222x146.jpg 222w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-8-50x33.jpg 50w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-8-114x75.jpg 114w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-60787\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Last-mile delivery is growing.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"last-mile-delivery-2\"><span id=\"The_3_major_challenges_of_last-mile_logistics\">The 3 major challenges of last-mile logistics<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"last-mile-delivery-3\"><span id=\"Maintain_and_improve_profitability\">Maintain and improve profitability<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The closer you get to the consumer, the more complicated it is to pool flows, and the higher the unit cost of transporting each item. There are several reasons for this inflation of last-mile costs:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>Delivery deadlines.<\/li>\n<li>Geographical dispersion of customers.<\/li>\n<li>High cost of logistics land in urban areas.<\/li>\n<li>Difficulties of access and parking reduce the productivity of delivery drivers, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While the economic cost of the last mile usually represents <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/forbesbusinesscouncil\/2023\/01\/26\/how-and-why-should-businesses-democratize-the-last-mile\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>41% of total supply chain costs<\/u><\/a> in 2023, this ratio is set to rise to 56% in the coming years.<\/p>\n<p>Yet companies and online retailers rarely charge their customers the real cost of the last mile. Instead, to keep product delivery costs under control, they tend to outsource this part of the supply chain, while forcing logistics providers to compete fiercely on price.<\/p>\n<p>For those involved in last-mile delivery, this <strong>strong pricing pressure<\/strong> means very low profitability. According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/urban-freight-how-to-deliver-the-city-without-suffocating-it\/#UF-5\"><u>study conducted in France by the firm Oliver Wyman<\/u><\/a>, courier and express freight companies, like their subcontractors, have to work with an operating profit of around 2%.<\/p>\n<p>At this margin level, every player in the supply chain must constantly <strong>streamline and optimise their costs<\/strong>, if they want to save their business year after year!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_60792\" style=\"width: 1440px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-60792\" class=\"wp-image-60792 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1430\" height=\"1212\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-3.jpg 1430w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-3-300x254.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-3-1024x868.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-3-768x651.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-3-172x146.jpg 172w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-3-50x42.jpg 50w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-3-88x75.jpg 88w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1430px) 100vw, 1430px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-60792\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The market of local delivery SMEs in France by Oliver Wyman.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 id=\"last-mile-delivery-4\"><span id=\"Reduce_the_carbon_footprint_of_transport\">Reduce the carbon footprint of transport<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The environmental impact of goods deliveries is considerable, particularly in urban areas.<\/p>\n<p>The Centre for London estimates that <a href=\"https:\/\/centreforlondon.org\/blog\/parcel-delivery-freight\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>450 million packages are delivered in London every year<\/u><\/a>, i.e. 1 package a week for every inhabitant. Yet <strong>85% of freight in the UK is delivered by road<\/strong>, generating massive pollution.<\/p>\n<p>According to the study \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.centreforlondon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Worth_The_Weight_Report_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>Worth the Weight: Making London&#8217;s deliveries greener and smarter<\/u><\/a>\u201d carried out by Centre for London, goods transport in the city accounts for :<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>15% of traffic.<\/li>\n<li>25% of carbon emissions.<\/li>\n<li>27% of fine particle emissions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To avoid suffocating, cities are deploying new logistics strategies. In addition to <strong>regulatory measures<\/strong> such as low-emission zones, they are also encouraging hauliers to make their vehicle fleets carbon-free by offering <strong>financial incentives<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Freight companies, caught between traffic restrictions and the environmental concerns of their customers, have no choice but to gradually change their practices.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_60797\" style=\"width: 1440px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-60797\" class=\"wp-image-60797 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1430\" height=\"515\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-4.jpg 1430w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-4-300x108.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-4-1024x369.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-4-768x277.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-4-260x94.jpg 260w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-4-50x18.jpg 50w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-4-150x54.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1430px) 100vw, 1430px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-60797\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The impact of goods deliveries in London.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 id=\"last-mile-delivery-5\"><span id=\"Meet_customer_expectations_and_build_loyalty\">Meet customer expectations and build loyalty<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>To reduce their carbon footprint and preserve their low margins, logistics professionals may be tempted to extend delivery deadlines.<\/p>\n<p>But it&#8217;s a risky gamble, because consumers&#8217; expectations are so contradictory.<\/p>\n<p>According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.groupestarservice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Etude-Ifop-2021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>study conducted in 2021 by IFOP<\/u><\/a>, an international polling and market research firm, delivery remains the most important factor when buying online for 64% of customers, far ahead of price (31%) and the product itself (27%).<\/p>\n<p>But it&#8217;s when it comes to defining what is \u201cgood\u201d delivery that things get tricky\u2026<br \/>\nConsumers clearly appreciate <strong>on-time delivery<\/strong> and respect for commitments on the date and time slot indicated. But what else? 73% of Internet users say they are interested in <strong>eco-responsible delivery<\/strong>, and 80% even say they are willing to be delivered more slowly.<\/p>\n<p>Yet more than half of consumers would like to receive their parcel within the hour of ordering, or even in the evening and on Sundays. But these two options are far from the best in terms of social and environmental responsibility!<\/p>\n<p>To meet these highly contradictory requirements, carriers and online retailers have to offer a very <strong>wide range of delivery options<\/strong>, with customers making their choices on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_60802\" style=\"width: 1440px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-60802\" class=\"wp-image-60802 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1430\" height=\"633\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-6.jpg 1430w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-6-300x133.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-6-1024x453.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-6-768x340.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-6-260x115.jpg 260w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-6-50x22.jpg 50w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-6-150x66.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1430px) 100vw, 1430px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-60802\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The most important criteria when buying online by IFOP.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"last-mile-delivery-6\"><span id=\"5_realistic_solutions_to_optimise_your_last-mile_deliveries\">5 realistic solutions to optimise your last-mile deliveries<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To improve your profitability and gain market share in this ultra-competitive environment, your company can fortunately benefit from a number of tried and tested services and best practices.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"last-mile-delivery-7\"><span id=\"Pooling_flows\">Pooling flows<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Transport for London reports an average loading factor for vans in London of approximately 38%.<br \/>\nDepending on the location and activity of your company, there are several solutions for pooling shipments and reducing the number of miles travelled.<\/p>\n<p>For example, you can delegate some routes or optimise the use of your own lorries by using the <strong>freight exchange<\/strong>.<br \/>\nIf you are based in a rural area or a small town, you can also outsource deliveries to low-emission zones to <a href=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/urban-logistics-how-to-take-up-the-last-mile-challenge\/#urban-logistics-7\"><u>companies which specialise in urban logistics<\/u><\/a>.<br \/>\nThese companies operate cross-docking, i.e. they receive goods at <strong>sorting platforms on the outskirts of major cities<\/strong>, before delivering them within the town centres using a fleet of adapted vehicles:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>Light commercial vehicles<\/li>\n<li>Scooters<\/li>\n<li>Cargo bikes, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_60807\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-60807\" class=\"wp-image-60807\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1053\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-5.jpg 1739w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-5-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-5-1024x674.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-5-768x506.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-5-1536x1011.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-5-222x146.jpg 222w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-5-50x33.jpg 50w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-5-114x75.jpg 114w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-60807\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The pooling of flows thanks to sorting platforms on the outskirts of major cities.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 id=\"last-mile-delivery-8\"><span id=\"Optimising_delivery_routes_with_dedicated_software\">Optimising delivery routes with dedicated software<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Another very quick solution is to use dedicated optimisation software to <a href=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/delivery\/\"><u>manage more efficiently the deliveries<\/u><\/a> that you cannot or do not want to outsource.<\/p>\n<p>AntsRoute is packed with useful features to help you <strong>streamline your distribution routes<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>Planning in just a few clicks thanks to powerful algorithms.<\/li>\n<li>Generating routes tailored to each category of vehicle.<\/li>\n<li>Optimising the loading capacities.<\/li>\n<li>Simplifying the management of unforeseen events (absences, breakdowns, traffic jams, etc.).<\/li>\n<li>Tracking in real-time the deliveries completed or cancelled, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/app.antsroute.com\/subscription\/creation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-60817 size-full\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-10.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-10.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-10-300x132.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-10-1024x451.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-10-768x338.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-10-1536x676.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-10-260x114.jpg 260w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-10-50x22.jpg 50w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-10-150x66.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"last-mile-delivery-9\"><span id=\"Encouraging_out-of-home_delivery\">Encouraging out-of-home delivery<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>According to the same IFOP study, almost half of customers said they would prefer a delivery address other than their home or workplace:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>29% choose parcel pickup-up point.<\/li>\n<li>9% prefer delivery to a locker (Amazon lockers, InPost Lockers, Pickup Station, etc.).<\/li>\n<li>5% choose in-store pick-up.<\/li>\n<li>4% at a post office.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>However, out-of-home delivery is a very effective way of optimising deliveries. Not only do you avoid the <a href=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/urban-freight-how-to-deliver-the-city-without-suffocating-it\/#UF-11\"><u>13% to 14% failure rate at the first delivery attempt<\/u><\/a>, but you also reduce the number of stops in town, which are a major source of pollution.<\/p>\n<p>It is estimated, for example, that a delivery driver serving drop-off points makes an average of 15 stops during a delivery route, compared with around 50 when serving private customers.<\/p>\n<p>It is therefore in the interests of both e-commerce retailers and logistics service providers to encourage the pick-up of parcels outside the home by offering either more <strong>attractive prices<\/strong> or <strong>express delivery times<\/strong> for this type of delivery.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_60822\" style=\"width: 1440px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-60822\" class=\"wp-image-60822 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1430\" height=\"704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-9.jpg 1430w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-9-300x148.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-9-1024x504.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-9-768x378.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-9-260x128.jpg 260w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-9-50x25.jpg 50w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/antsroute-last-mile-delivery-challenge-9-150x75.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1430px) 100vw, 1430px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-60822\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The preferred method of delivery for online consumers by IFOP.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 id=\"last-mile-delivery-10\"><span id=\"Turning_home_delivery_into_a_great_experience\">Turning home delivery into a great experience<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Route management software<\/strong> is also essential for optimising deliveries to the 57% of consumers who still choose home or office delivery.<\/p>\n<p>To avoid failures due to customer absence, these solutions include functions for the automated sending of emails or text messages, according to the timetable defined by the company.<\/p>\n<p>&#x2728;\u00a0 Our software also includes enhanced features to make delivery a memorable experience and offer your customers a <strong>5-star service<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>With AntsRoute, for example, your customer can choose a delivery time slot online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They also receive a live tracking link so that they can see the location of the delivery driver in real time.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"last-mile-delivery-11\"><span id=\"Reducing_the_carbon_footprint_of_your_delivery_fleet\">Reducing the carbon footprint of your delivery fleet<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>To limit the environmental impact of deliveries while avoiding the constraints of low-emission zones, the best solution is of course to switch your fleet to <strong>electric<\/strong>, <strong>biogas<\/strong> or <strong>natural gas vehicles<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Many cities and urban communities have introduced <a href=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/urban-freight-how-to-deliver-the-city-without-suffocating-it\/#UF-9\"><u>dedicated subsidies<\/u><\/a> to reduce the cost difference between combustion vehicles and these more environmentally-friendly modes of transport. Think about asking your local authority about this.<\/p>\n<p>To help you <a href=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/how-to-offer-more-eco-friendly-deliveries\/\"><u>build greener delivery routes<\/u><\/a>, AntsRoute also includes a range of features designed to ease the real constraints of using electric vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>During the planning stage, our software takes into account parameters such as:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>The battery life of each vehicle and the time required to recharge it.<\/li>\n<li>Minimum and maximum state of charge thresholds.<\/li>\n<li>The location of the stations.<\/li>\n<li>The state of charge of the battery transmitted by a tracking tool, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Would you like to try our route management solution for free for 7 days? It&#8217;s easy, just <a href=\"https:\/\/app.antsroute.com\/subscription\/creation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>register here<\/u><\/a>![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs Extra Small Screen vc_hidden-sm Small Screen&#8221; width=&#8221;2\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243; el_class=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs Extra Small Screen vc_hidden-sm Small Screen&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_class=&#8221;padding-block&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1705421085990{background-color: #00041f !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n<p class=\"h2-footer\" style=\"text-align: center; color: #ffffff;\">Optimise your last-mile deliveries today<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-head\" style=\"text-align: center; color: #bfc0c6;\">Free 7-day trial | No credit card required<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]\n<div id=\"cta\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn-grad\" style=\"align-self: center;\" href=\"https:\/\/app.antsroute.com\/subscription\/creation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Get started<\/strong> \u2013 It&#8217;s free<\/a> <a class=\"button-2-white\" style=\"align-self: center;\" href=\"https:\/\/calendly.com\/lea-brice-antsroute\/demonstration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Book a demo<\/a><\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div><div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_wrap_right no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Contenu<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#What_is_the_last_mile\">What is the \u201clast mile\u201d?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#The_3_major_challenges_of_last-mile_logistics\">The 3 major challenges of last-mile logistics<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Maintain_and_improve_profitability\">Maintain and improve profitability<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Reduce_the_carbon_footprint_of_transport\">Reduce the carbon footprint of transport<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Meet_customer_expectations_and_build_loyalty\">Meet customer expectations and build loyalty<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#5_realistic_solutions_to_optimise_your_last-mile_deliveries\">5 realistic solutions to optimise your last-mile deliveries<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Pooling_flows\">Pooling flows<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Optimising_delivery_routes_with_dedicated_software\">Optimising delivery routes with dedicated software<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Encouraging_out-of-home_delivery\">Encouraging out-of-home delivery<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Turning_home_delivery_into_a_great_experience\">Turning home delivery into a great experience<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Reducing_the_carbon_footprint_of_your_delivery_fleet\">Reducing the carbon footprint of your delivery fleet<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last-mile delivery is becoming increasingly expensive! Discover 5 industry-approved solutions to this major challenge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":60782,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22799,6282],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-delivery","category-solutions"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Last-mile delivery: the ultimate logistics challenge<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Last-mile delivery is becoming increasingly expensive! 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