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Last Mile Carrier
Technology is a constantly evolving force. As such, businesses are being forced to also advance at the same speed to compete in a given space. Today, most companies attract their customers by eliminating shipping costs. While it’s a noble route, research says that clients are more inclined to faster deliveries than free, slower shipping of their goods.
A whopping 54% of the customers are willing to pay for the delivery, provided the goods get to them on the same day! Additionally, 97% of consumers expect updates on their shipping via order tracking from the seller after their orders have been confirmed. Therefore, last mile logistics carriers have become a must for any serious business.
Types of Last Mile Carrier Models
When most people think of carriers, they see 18-wheelers making deliveries from one corner of a state to another. However, last-mile carriers are different. These people come right up to your doorstep to deliver your goods. Since they come face to face with your customers, they are the face of your brand, more so if your business is primarily online. So, here are some of the carrier models a company can choose from to maximize benefits and advantages.
The first is to work with a single carrier. This option is popular with most businesses because tracing here is relatively easy. However, it may become a challenge for eCommerce fulfillment as processing a large number of orders can become very challenging. This challenge leaves clients waiting for their packages for extended periods, which may not be good if you hope to secure repeat clients.
Alternatively, you can work with third-party logistics providers (3PL). These give a business the choice to have multiple fleets without buying and maintaining the fleet. However, when it comes to this kind of model, you need to carefully choose the company well and be sure that it can handle the deliveries and expectations your business has as a brand to its clients.
How Does the Last Mile Carrier Help a Business?
Choosing a suitable last-mile carrier can have immense benefits for your enterprise. Some of these benefits include:
Improving Transparency
A proper logistics company has a fleet of vehicles ready to deliver orders, but it also has adequate delivery software to make the whole process as smooth as possible. This software shows the order details in full to ensure there are no gaps in the fulfillment of said order. In addition, the software shows when the client made the order, who made it, the vehicle to make the delivery, the driver, and the expected delivery time, thereby eliminating guesswork and uncertainty.
Promotes Scalability and Productivity
Since last-mile delivery drivers utilize GPS and route optimization software, this removes the chances of unplanned diversions and idling. Using the technology, drivers take the most optimal delivery route, meaning clients also get their goods on time. Since these services are outsourced, it’s easier to scale the process when your business grows, as it’s only a matter of adding more to your fleet. Since these fleets are owned and controlled by a third party, the company can quickly scale up without the tremendous capital needed in-house.
Cost-Effective
While most businesses may want to have the control that in-house last-mile carriers have, it’s often a hugely expensive affair. The business has to go through several hoops to get the carriers up and running. That’s because the business will have to incur the costs of purchasing the fleet, maintaining it, the drivers’ fees, and the costs of running and maintaining the technologies behind the scenes.
Choosing the proper last-mile carrier can make your supply chain and aid your business in getting to the next level. Do you need impeccable solutions to help you deliver to your clients? If so, Swift delivery is here for you. Get in touch with us today!Rewrite
