OneRail

Last Mile Tracking and Visibility: The Secret Sauce to Unified Customer Experience

Imagine you’re a customer waiting for a time-sensitive package with anticipation. We’ve all been there, glancing at our smartphones religiously and repeatedly checking for updates. 

The anxiety of the wait underscores the importance of delivery precision, especially during the crucial final stretch — the last mile. While customers anxiously wait, retailers want to master their last mile operations to outshine their competitors, as suggested in OneRail’s “What is Last Mile Delivery? A Guide to Modern Mastery.” 

These days, last mile tracking, enriched by last mile carrier tracking data, takes center stage, providing precise oversight of a product’s final journey. Last mile visibility complements this by presenting a comprehensive view of the delivery process, including critical details like estimated arrival times and status updates. As the bar for transparency and punctuality rises, these elements emerge as indispensable.  This article explains why. 

The Concept of Last Mile Tracking

The last leg of a product’s journey holds significant sway over the entire delivery ecosystem. There, complexities unravel, costs escalate and, ultimately, customer satisfaction is determined. To navigate this crucial stretch, we introduce the concept of last mile tracking.

Defining Last Mile Tracking and Its Role in the Delivery Ecosystem

Picture last mile tracking as the north star in your delivery ecosystem. This tech-savvy solution actively tracks the movement of goods, keeping them in real-time view during their critical final delivery phase. For businesses, when done well, last mile tracking streamlines operations; while for customers, it tracks their anticipated deliveries. With GPS, barcodes and RFID as its backbone, last mile tracking becomes a GPS navigating businesses through common roadblocks like traffic congestion and communication gaps.

How Last Mile Tracking Contributes to Last Mile Visibility

Last mile tracking is a fundamental tool to enhance last mile visibility as it offers accurate, real-time information on a product’s final delivery phase. It’s akin to a looking glass, allowing businesses and customers to trace packages through the last mile. Yet this visibility goes beyond mere tracking — it illuminates the intricacies of delivery, enabling a predictive, proactive approach to delivery management.

The Role of Technology in Enabling Effective Last Mile Tracking

Technology is the backbone of effective last mile tracking, shining a light on the path of parcels in real time. With GPS locating each package and data analytics smoothing out any snags in the route, technology provides various solutions. It aids in forging strategic partnerships and fine-tuning dispatch systems, all while keeping customers informed and confident about their delivery. 

The Challenges in Achieving Last Mile Visibility and Tracking

Businesses are under significant pressure to achieve flawless last mile visibility and tracking. The stakes are high, and formidable challenges — from soaring costs to integrating advanced technology — only scratch the surface.  

Infrastructure Issues

Seamless last mile visibility and tracking often meet substantial hurdles from infrastructural challenges. In dense urban locales, traffic congestion, narrow streets and inadequate parking complicate the final stage of goods delivery, making it time-consuming and costly. Further, these challenges amplify in areas with poor infrastructure, mainly rural or remote locations with bad roads or incomplete addressing.

Burden of High Costs

It’s a burden for retailers to figure out the economics of last mile delivery. With this critical stage accounting for 53% of total shipping costs, costs go beyond delivery and expand to warehousing, fulfillment and technology expenses. Add the pressure of speedy, often complimentary shipping and the complexity of e-commerce-induced third-party logistics, and the path grows thornier. Moreover, still-sticky inflation adds to the burden, threatening profitability.

Scalability 

Scaling delivery operations to meet fluctuating consumer demands, particularly during peak seasons, is no small feat. A failure to scale effectively can lead to delivery delays and customer dissatisfaction. Over time, these issues can erode a retailer’s reputation, making scalability a hurdle to overcome to ensure seamless last mile delivery tracking.

Operational Efficiency 

Operational efficiency in last mile visibility and tracking faces considerable hurdles. A Hubspot survey showed that 49% of retailers experience complications in route optimization, citing travel time between delivery points as a major bottleneck. Furthermore, managing an intricate network of various delivery partners, from multinational parcel services to local couriers, amplifies the visibility challenge. 

Lack of Real-time Data

Despite a high awareness (66.5%) and usage (76.19%) of last mile delivery services, according to a FRAYT survey, a scarcity of real-time data poses significant hurdles in optimizing visibility and tracking. This data shortfall affects service efficiency, with 61% of logistics firms identifying last mile delivery as their least efficient segment, according to a 2020 SOTI report. While many respondents cite service improvements and cost-effectiveness, this lack of real-time data continues to cap the full potential of last mile tracking. 

Lack of Technology Integration

Disjointed technology systems stifle last mile visibility and tracking. Disconnected data sources generate silos, frustrating efforts to view delivery processes comprehensively. Customer demands for quick and reliable service put further pressure on these strained systems. Amid the e-commerce boom, the disarray in technology integration poses a formidable hurdle to effectively navigating the intricate landscape of last mile delivery logistics.

Customer Expectations

Punctuality and visibility are the twin pillars of customer satisfaction in the modern delivery world. Yet despite rising and uncompromising customer demands for swift deliveries and real-time tracking, businesses often struggle to meet these expectations. The stakes are high, as a Statista survey found nearly half of U.S. shoppers would only tolerate a 3-5 day delivery wait. Further, a significant 66% — predominantly Baby Boomers — would abandon a company after just one late delivery experience. 

Data Security Challenges  

As we tread deeper into the digital era, the pivotal role of data security in last mile delivery becomes increasingly evident. Retailers must balance harnessing technology for efficiency with diligently protecting customer data. This objective, growing more complex with advancing technology, raises the stakes regarding potential data misuse. Nonetheless, navigating this challenge remains crucial for maintaining consumer trust and preserving brand reputation.

Sustainability Concerns 

Sustainability poses a significant challenge in last mile delivery, given the industry’s focus on speed over eco-efficiency. Retailers must overhaul their logistics strategies, due to rising environmental regulations and consumer preferences. For instance, Deloitte’s 2021 Holiday Retail Report revealed that 63% of consumers prefer sustainable businesses. Potential solutions, such as local fulfillment centers, could lower last mile emissions by 17-26% by 2025 (Accenture). However, without intervention, last mile emissions in the world’s 100 largest cities could increase by over 30% (World Economic Forum), highlighting the urgency of this challenge.

Rapid Technological Change 

The relentless pace of technological innovation poses a demanding challenge for businesses. Retailers must keep up by harnessing the latest advancements to strengthen tracking and visibility. Yet, this constant technological adoption and integration cycle can become overwhelming, demanding perpetual attention and adjustment.

Importance of Last Mile Visibility and Tracking in Customer Experience

The importance of reliable last mile visibility and tracking extends beyond logistics efficiency. It also directly impacts customer satisfaction and brand loyalty by transforming complex deliveries into seamless experiences.  

Last Mile Visibility and Tracking: The Keystone of Customer Satisfaction

The role of last mile tracking in customer satisfaction is paramount. Real-time updates assuage customer anxieties and unburden service teams, offering notable time and cost savings. However, perfection is crucial as consumers grow less forgiving: a TCN Inc. survey reveals 73% would abandon a brand after one negative experience, a significant rise from 66% in 2022 and nearly double the 42% in 2021.

Building Brand Loyalty with Last Mile Visibility and Tracking

The fiercely competitive retail sector fosters brand loyalty through an exceptional last mile delivery experience. By empowering customers with real-time tracking, brands enhance control and deepen trust. Accurate arrival predictions and clear notifications facilitate customer participation in smooth deliveries, forging a positive brand connection. A study by Digital Commerce 360 substantiates this, revealing that 93% of customers desire constant updates throughout the delivery process, 47% avoid brands with subpar delivery visibility and 98% deem delivery quality crucial to brand loyalty.

Last Mile Visibility, Tracking and the Modern-Day Milkman

Harking back to the 1700s, the neighborhood milkman symbolized personalized doorstep service. Today’s retail landscape rekindles this spirit, redefining the Modern-Day Milkman with a renewed emphasis on understanding customer needs and crafting bespoke experiences.

Operating As a Modern-Day Milkman

While the traditional milkman may seem a relic of the past, his principles are now more relevant than ever in today’s delivery ecosystem. Retailers are embracing this ethos to understand customer needs and deliver personalized experiences. The digital age has allowed this customized service to blend with a vast selection of products, revolutionizing customer expectations.

Relevance to Today’s Delivery Ecosystem

The Modern-Day Milkman approach draws from the past, focusing on superior service and understanding customer needs. It integrates this with the advantages of the present, such as technological innovation, thereby addressing the rising demand for personalized, sophisticated last mile experiences. It signifies a return to customer-centric service without compromising product variety or convenience.

Role of Last Mile Visibility and Tracking

Last mile visibility and tracking are cornerstones of today’s personalized delivery experience, fostering a sense of control and assurance for customers. When incorporated into last mile delivery, these elements nurture customer trust and promote brand loyalty. Retailers harnessing real-time tracking cultivate relationships reminiscent of the classic bond between neighborhood milkmen and households, deepening their connection with customers.

Case Study: OneRail’s Success

As e-commerce demands surged, Premier Pet Supply recognized the importance of last mile visibility and tracking to uphold their commitment to a personalized customer experience. By partnering with OneRail, they made like a modern-day milkman by providing prompt, reliable and transparent service. This strategic move expanded their delivery zones by 50% and increased deliveries by 10%. They also saw substantial cost savings: $10K annual savings from reduced wear on vehicles and $60K in annual savings on direct labor costs as employees returned to the store floor.  

The Role of Technology in Last Mile Visibility and Tracking

In e-commerce, the pivot point rests on optimizing last mile delivery, a process responsible for over half of all delivery costs. Embracing advanced technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) offers a robust solution for optimizing this delivery phase and enhancing cost efficiency.

Harnessing IoT, AI and ML for Last Mile Delivery

The transformation of last mile delivery rests on IoT devices, AI and ML. IoT facilitates real-time tracking, providing crucial visibility within intricate delivery networks. Concurrently, AI and ML revolutionize decision-making by factoring in variables such as traffic and customer preferences, thus optimizing routes. This efficient orchestration liberates logistics teams for strategic tasks and boosts customer satisfaction.

The Pivotal Role of Data in Last Mile Delivery

As the fulcrum of last mile delivery optimization, data sheds light on processes, identifies inefficiencies and prompts improvements. Robust analytics can drive predictive models for proactive decision-making, using past data to forecast future supply chain challenges and opportunities. Amid data’s importance, strong security measures can also help protect information, uphold customer trust and elevate corporate reputation.

Last Mile Delivery Software and Platforms 

Last mile delivery software and platforms enhance operations and customer satisfaction, precisely addressing the complex needs of last mile delivery. This technology is particularly adept at real-time tracking, error prevention and cost-cutting. Let’s unpack its roles, features and problem-solving capabilities.

The Critical Role of Last Mile Delivery Platforms in Achieving Visibility and Tracking

Pivotal to e-commerce success, last mile delivery platforms streamline operations and skyrocket customer satisfaction. These systems shine in real-time tracking, mitigating delivery blunders and driving cost efficiencies. They command attention by heightening visibility, ensuring detailed tracking and dispensing data-driven actionable insights. With their ability to anticipate potential hiccups and offer unrivaled transparency, these platforms assert their indispensability.

Evaluating Key Features in Last Mile Delivery Software

Choosing the right platform for effective last mile delivery tracking requires careful evaluation of the following features:

  • Real-time tracking: Offers complete delivery journey visibility, keeping businesses and customers updated.
  • Route Optimization: Leverages machine learning for traffic analysis and efficient route identification, potentially saving up to 20% on fuel costs.
  • Driver Performance Tracking: Enhances service quality through efficient driver monitoring, promotes safe workplace culture and aids in reducing fuel consumption.
  • Proof of Delivery: Provides instant delivery confirmation and real-time accurate data, eliminating manual entry and accelerating various operational processes.
  • Integration Capabilities: Enables seamless connection with other supply chain systems and platforms for efficient data sharing and optimization.

How Platforms Help Overcome Last Mile Delivery Challenges

Last mile delivery platforms strategically address challenges like high costs and data deficits, enabling businesses to adapt to disruptions. Through real-time tracking, they boost efficiency, security and sustainability. Their scalability supports growth, while transparency, instant notifications and easy access to shipment status raise service quality and customer satisfaction levels.

Last Mile Visibility and Tracking in Omnichannel Distribution

The competitive business world calls for robust distribution strategies, and omnichannel fulfillment meets this need. Let’s explore this powerful strategy focusing on integrating last mile visibility and tracking. 

Understanding Omnichannel Fulfillment

More than offering multiple sales avenues, omnichannel fulfillment unifies customer experiences across all channels. Last mile tracking is central to this strategy’s success, ensuring a seamless journey and consistent, high-quality service, regardless of the customer’s chosen shopping mode.

The Role of Last Mile Visibility and Tracking in Omnichannel Distribution Strategy

Last mile visibility and tracking are essential elements of a robust omnichannel distribution strategy from warehouse to doorstep. A telling Verte 2022 survey reveals that 91% of consumers actively track their shipments, with 39% checking in daily. Significantly, 70% prefer independent tracking over assistance during delays, underlining the critical need for effective last mile tracking systems in a successful omnichannel strategy.

How Last Mile Visibility and Tracking Integrates Sales Channels

Last mile visibility and tracking coordinate sales channels by supplying real-time data to facilitate prompt, informed decisions. This ability goes beyond mere integration, enabling adaptive route modifications aligned with evolving customer needs and driver locations. For example, when customers buy online, pick up in-store, then return via courier, last mile tracking guarantees an uninterrupted, seamless experience, with real-time updates across all channels.

Case Study: Successful Omnichannel Strategy Enabled by Last Mile Visibility and Tracking

A product manufacturer harnessed the power of OneRail’s automation to reshape its omnichannel distribution. Transitioning to OneRail’s automated system, the company anticipates saving $13M over three years. Implementing last mile carrier tracking, the manufacturer now celebrates a commendable 97% on-time delivery rate and a zero failure record. This success underscores the importance of last mile visibility in enhancing delivery reliability and streamlining costs. 

The Evolution from Omnichannel to Unified Commerce and the Role of Last Mile Tracking 

As the retail industry evolves, the shift from omnichannel to unified commerce amplifies the importance of last mile delivery tracking as a major driver in the retail sector’s evolution. 

Understanding the Shift from Omnichannel Retail to Unified Commerce

The transition from omnichannel retail to unified commerce marks a crucial pivot in digital retail. Unified commerce comes in where omnichannel has fallen short — merging physical and online channels, and addressing the complexities — 78% of retailers find it challenging to adapt to omnichannel trends, per a Periscope study. By prioritizing customer convenience and delivering key consumer behavior insights, unified commerce enhances last mile delivery tracking and visibility, catering to evolving retail needs.

Role of Last Mile Visibility and Tracking in This Transformation

Last mile visibility and tracking prove indispensable in the shift from omnichannel to unified commerce. These tools facilitate valuable insights, driving operational efficiency and automation. They leverage real-time tracking and analytics to revolutionize customer service while optimizing fleet management through real-time data, enhancing route efficiency. Accordingly, retailers can realize substantial cost savings, streamlined distribution and an elevated customer experience, embodying the promise of unified commerce.

How Last Mile Visibility and Tracking Enable a Seamless Unified Commerce Experience

Enabling a seamless unified commerce experience relies heavily on expert last mile visibility and tracking. With real-time data, businesses can swiftly adjust delivery routes and processes, transforming tracking tools into strategic assets that reveal crucial inventory insights. This results in operational efficiency, minimized errors, improved productivity and a personalized customer experience — the essence of successful unified commerce.

The Interconnection Between Last Mile Delivery, Last Mile Visibility and Unified Commerce

The interconnection between last mile delivery, visibility and unified commerce is a powerful triad that revolutionizes retail operations and elevates customer service.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Last mile delivery, bolstered by robust management tools, is the final but crucial step in getting products to customers.
  2. Adding last mile visibility to the mix, with real-time tracking, brings in unprecedented transparency and efficiency, enhancing every delivery.
  3. Finally, seamlessly integrating these elements within a unified commerce strategy supercharges operations and boosts customer satisfaction.

Real-Life Success Stories 

UberEats, DoorDash, Postmates, Grubhub and Instacart demonstrate the successful application of last mile visibility and tracking in bolstering unified commerce. These food delivery frontrunners employ real-time tracking to enhance operations and amplify transparency. Notably, Instacart, claiming a formidable 45% of the U.S. grocery delivery market in 2021, second only to Walmart, projected a net profit of $10 million for April 2023, driven by customer purchases topping $700 million in the first two weeks alone. This data underscores the competitive edge last mile technology offers, especially as Instacart’s grocery sales are forecasted to exceed $40 billion by 2024

Last Mile Visibility and Tracking: The Game-Changer for Modern Delivery Ecosystems

Last mile visibility and tracking are the heart of the modern delivery ecosystem, offering a lifeline of real-time operational insights. With a robust delivery management system, businesses can illuminate every step of the journey, from order inception to anticipated arrival, creating an unrivaled level of transparency.

Leveraging the power of advanced technology and specialized last mile platforms becomes a compelling imperative. By doing so, businesses can enhance real-time tracking and elevate operational efficiency while maintaining a leading edge in customer satisfaction.

Therefore, an unwavering commitment to boosting last mile visibility and tracking is vital. This focus is the bedrock of an impactful omnichannel strategy. More than just achieving efficient product delivery, this commitment unlocks the door to memorable customer experiences through improved last mile systems, ultimately shaping the future of retail.

To see how OneRail can revolutionize your last mile delivery experience, request a demo today

See how OneRail can
simplify your supply chain.

Let's Talk

Platform

OmniPoint™ Platform

Our data-driven visibility solution is architected on the trusted Microsoft Azure platform.

Schedule a Demo

See OneRail in action, and take the first step toward a connected supply chain.

Services

Services

Our team of technologists optimizes your last mile with customized solutions for a quick time-to-value.

Get Started

Dig into the details with a no-risk Value Analysis.

Industries

Industries

The world’s largest brands across major industries rely on our adaptable, scalable delivery solution.

TMS White Paper

Learn what’s missing from your TMS, and what customers are looking for in last mile delivery.

Let's Talk