Last Mile and Final Mile are synonymous terms that are used interchangeably in the supply chain to describe the last leg in a shipment’s journey – from distribution hub or warehouse to final delivery destination – yet most shippers struggle with finding a reliable solution.
Understanding the Complexities and Costs that Make Last/Final Mile so Important
Last Mile and Final Mile are synonymous terms that are used interchangeably in the supply chain to describe the last leg in a shipment’s journey – from distribution hub or warehouse to final delivery destination – yet most shippers struggle with finding a reliable solution.
The increased need for expedited shipping in the B2B sector makes it important to understand that the last or final mile of the freight’s journey typically accounts for more than 53% of the total shipping cost. Compound this growing demand with the increase in other delivery methods that utilize local carriers like first mile and expedited shipping, and the need for a reliable Local Carrier resource becomes even more crucial to successfully navigate the supply chain.
Expectations for added efficiencies in last and final mile shipping for B2B customers continue to increase amidst a slew of complications in this leg of the shipping process since Shippers and 3PLs handle larger shipments that some technology solutions cannot manage. Unforeseen challenges and inefficiencies can become costly as frequent changes in last or final mile shipping with unscheduled and unaccounted for deviations in rates, routes, or carrier availability can dramatically impact profitability.
Enhanced First Mile and Expedited Shipping Management
In addition to accounting for complexities in last and final mile shipping, Shippers and 3PLs need to be mindful of those same issues in first mile or the first leg of the supply chain. The challenges of handling shipment data and ensuring proper packaging make it another important step in the shipping journey that can be costly if not managed properly.
Expedited shipping has also become increasingly popular as the supply chain evolves to adapt to customer expectations. Many refer to this as the “Amazon Effect” with consumers expecting quick and easy order fulfillment and delivery, which ultimately impacts B2B shipping or those who supply the materials to make the products in those orders.
To combat the complexities of all legs in the supply chain and minimize the impact of rising costs and rising customer expectations, Shippers and 3PLs need a comprehensive, digital Local Carrier solution to help protect their bottom line.
How a Comprehensive Local Carrier Solution Can Help
A digital solution with Local Carrier capabilities can help you respond quickly to shipping and scheduling issues and satisfy increased B2B customer demands in last, final, first or any mile. Technology can also help automate manual processes providing valuable data and visibility to help make more informed business decisions based on real-time information, ensuring your first/final mile shipping operations run smoothly.
Banyan Technology offers an enhanced, comprehensive Local Carrier Solution for the rating and scheduling of first/final mile, expedited, same-day, two-day, and white glove shipments. We help Shippers and 3PLs manage their freight for all over-the-road (OTR) shipments through our LIVE Connect™ platform, in addition to offering powerful business intelligence tools to analyze and act on their shipping data.
Our Local Carrier service offering aligns with our overarching goal to provide a seamless multi-mode solution that allows Shippers and 3PLs to rate and execute local deliveries alongside less-than-truckload (LTL), Truckload and Parcel shipping modes within the Banyan LIVE Connect platform.
Contact Banyan Technology today to learn how we can help you eliminate the complexities of first, final mile and expedited shipping with our Local Carrier solutions.
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