Last Mile Distribution: The Global State of Last Mile in 2020

Global logistics spending will soar beyond $10.6 trillion annually in 2020. Of that figure, 70% derives from transportation costs, and more than 40% of the transportation costs are within last mile distribution, reports Material Handling & Logistics. Yet, the state of last mile in 2020 is changing to reflect the added surging demand in response to COVID-19 and the pre-COVID expectations for growth in e-commerce, contributing to a $44.88 billion growth in last mile alone between 2020 and 20254, reports Business Wire. It’s an unusual circumstance, but then again, disruptions always are. The only way to survive and thrive in this omnichannel, contactless era lies in understanding the impacts that are reshaping the state of last mile distribution in 2020 and what it means for supply chain visibility, use of technology, and growth going forward. 

How to Build the Business Case for Integrated Supply Chain Systems

Driving Forces of Change in Last Mile Delivery Through 2020

The driving forces of change in last mile delivery through 2020 are simple, including a busier-than-average year for hurricane season, the current COVID-19 pandemic, strained trade agreements between the U.S. and foreign countries, limited visibility in the final mile, and of course, the Amazon Effect. 

Amazon is the unruly stepchild of shipping, but it is also a paragon of efficiency and always seems to come out ahead. The irony is that Amazon focused on the last mile from the very beginning—delivering to customers with faster, more affordable, and clear shipping capabilities. As companies look to respond to the disruptions throughout 2020, Amazon’s experiences are invaluable. Take the time to know what your customers want, and if available, build the shipping costs into a service-like offering. You may even realize lower product pricing and reap the benefits of better contracts with your trading partners.

Last Mile Distribution in 2020 Will Be Under the Microscope

A critical concern in last mile distribution in 2020 is going to be the “contactless” perspective. Drivers will be more wary and uncertain of whether to interact with customers, and this puts great strain on the need for white glove services. As a result, any failures in the final mile will become evident and result in lost customers. So, companies must put the microscope over final mile logistics, and as other problems come to light, the need for transparency will become a key factor. But, that’s not the full scale of the problem. 

Another factor to consider that affects last mile distribution in 2020 includes the need to move e-commerce fulfillment closer to consumers. Yes, brick-and-mortar stores can be used as fulfillment centers, but they fall short in more ways than one. Additionally, the trucker shortage is resulting in fewer long-haul deliveries and mass problems for shippers. As a result, companies that work to keep trucker costs under control and move shipping closer to consumers can help to mitigate losses by taking advantage of van and LTL delivery services that can store freight in pickup lockers and third-party sites to give customers more options without adding unnecessary headache to the process. 

As explained by Industry Week, “As online retailers are able to fulfill more customer demand cheaply and quickly from local warehouses, they could need much less of one of the most profitable services of the major parcel delivery firms: overnight shipping. Ironically, while Amazon’s investment in Prime Air acknowledges the criticality of overnight delivery today, Amazon’s investments in understanding customer behavior might serve to undermine that criticality tomorrow.”

New Technologies Will Further Unlock Savings Within the Final Mile

The rise of new technologies remains a critical component of the global state of final mile logistics. Artificial intelligence is among these technologies, says Rob Taylor via Forbes:

“In 2020, we’ll see supply chain teams realize the promises of AI, garnering insights on how to improve KPIs like on-time performance and cost to serve. This year, through technology and development in automation, retail supply chains will evolve from being a cost center to an investment for their entire organizations. McKinsey & Company even projects that businesses will gain between $1.3 trillion and $2 trillion each year in economic value by using AI in their supply chains.”

Other functions, like SaaS-based platforms that apply APIs to integrate with existing IT infrastructures, the deployment of machine learning, robotics process automation, and big data analytics, will also make a splash as companies look for ways to squeeze efficiency from the fringe and save money. It all goes back to the need for more omnichannel capabilities, and regardless of where customers get their orders, the final mile is everywhere in some form, even if that final mile rests within your store itself. 

Shippers Need to Start Working on Building Visibility Into the Final Mile to Stay Successful

Only time will tell when the next significant disruption will affect the trucking industry, but as 2020 moves forward, shippers must face the simple reality. This is not your father’s supply chain, and the weaknesses in the pre-COVID era will not serve as an excuse for failures to your customers. This is especially true in the final mile—where the most important interaction besides a customer’s completion of a purchase—occurs. In fact, the trucker shortage may very well come to a head as the pandemic wears on and hurricane season arrives. However, shippers that work to start building the processes to maintain success in the final mile, including increasing final mile transparency, recognizing the state of the last mile market is changing, and implementing a TMS capable of handling last mile distribution needs, can realize continued success.