Benefits of Last-Mile Delivery for Supply Chain Managers

In today’s eCommerce run world customers expect their packages to be delivered to their home or business on time. When customers receive a delayed, damaged, or the wrong package, the result usually is that logistics incur extra costs, and customers are left with a negative impression about the brand.

In order to ensure packages are delivered, last-mile delivery is the right solution for supply chain managers to implement. By leveraging courier software tools, supply chain managers can take packages to consumers quickly, reliably, and efficiently.

Let’s take a look at how last-mile delivery benefits the supply chain for package management.

Precision Route Tracking

When couriers deliver your package using last-mile delivery, they follow a precise route to your address. This route is optimized for vehicle size, location, time, and traffic. As a result, drivers, commanded by a dispatcher can quickly reroute and change roads to steer clear of any traffic issues that arise, so your package is delivered when expected.

Delivery Optimization

Knowing when a package is delivered is important. Last mile delivery improves package traceability through tracking information. This allows supply chain managers to see where the package is and at what stage of delivery. Once the package arrives at its final destination, the courier driver will implement data into the system stating that the package was signed for, dropped off at its intended location, and at what time. Supply chain managers can then use this information to reduce disputes and optimize the delivery process.

Increased Customer/Courier Communication

Last-mile delivery enhances the customer engagement experience. When customers place an order through an eCommerce business, they’re instantly given a tracking code from the courier working with the online shop. Customers can then track in real-time the movement of their package and contact the courier through an email or a telephone call. This creates increased communication and engagement between both the customer and the courier to reduce any delivery issues.

Couriers and freight forwarders are different options for different shipping needs. For large shipments, business owners usually wonder if they should use a freight forwarder or a courier for their packages.

We’ll go through the differences between these two options and hopefully help you decide which transportation method is right for your needs.

Definition of Freight Forwarders

A freight forwarder is a person or company that organizes shipments for individuals or corporations to get goods from the manufacturer or producer to a market, customer, or final point of distribution. Forwarders contract with a carrier or often multiple carriers to move the goods.

A forwarder does not move the goods but acts as an expert in the logistics network. The carriers can use a variety of shipping modes, including ships, airplanes, trucks, and railroads, and often use multiple modes for a single shipment. For example, the freight forwarder may arrange to have cargo moved from a plant to an airport by truck, flown to the destination city, and then moved from the airport to a customer’s building by another truck.

Definition of courier services

Courier services, on the other hand, are companies that personally handle your goods from pickup to delivery. Businesses are more likely to use a courier for specialized deliveries.

What’s right for you?

If your packages need to travel long distances, a freight forwarder is the best transportation method for you. Also, if your shipment requires, import/export requirements and another tax tracking, freight forwarding companies can handle these areas seamlessly for you.

On the other hand, if your business is looking for a more personalized transportation service, couriers are the right option for you. Couriers are excellent at delivering shipments directly to customers and handling special loads. You’ll always be able to track and identify where your package is at any given time, giving you and your customers more control over your packages.

Dotexpress would fall under the second condition: we are a family-owned courier that only operates locally assuring businesses with the best rates for a superior service operating locally.