Trends in Last Mile Delivery in 2022

With the e-commerce industry continuing to grow in Australia, it is not surprising that businesses are finding ways to streamline their last-mile delivery process. With so many options available, how will you know what will work best for your company? 

To help you find the best delivery partner for your company, we have compiled a list of five last mile delivery trends from 2022.

Sustainability

Global freight movement contributes an estimated 8% to yearly greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, according to the MIT climate portal. With the e-commerce boom we’ve been experiencing over the last couple of years, it can reasonably be assumed that last mile deliveries are responsible for a sizable chunk of that figure. 

Last-mile delivery can add huge amounts of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere if not done efficiently. In 2022, many companies set up ways to optimise their last-mile deliveries, which helped reduce environmental harm (as well as cut delivery costs). 

With the increase in online deliveries, it is increasingly important for companies to optimise their last-mile deliveries and focus on being environmentally conscious.

Below are some steps you can take to reduce last mile delivery emissions and make the delivery process more sustainable:

• Use software platforms like Drive Yello for route optimisation
• Increase the number of urban warehouses for quicker and easier deliveries
• Use parcel lockers to deliver to multiple customers simultaneously
• Create slot-based windows for returns

In the future, we might witness the advent of delivery robots that make last-mile delivery more efficient and sustainable. Until then, businesses should take measures to reduce their carbon footprints.

At Drive Yello, we believe monitoring environmental sustainability is essential for every business, no matter how big it is. In the interest of putting our best foot forward, we have recently partnered with carbon emission management company, Trace. 

Trace is supplementing our efforts towards becoming a carbon neutral organisation by measuring and offsetting our net carbon emissions. Through this partnership, we aim to continue the recent yet promising trend of environment-conscious companies who are willing to make a change by setting an example for other organisations to follow. 

Speed and flexibility of deliveries

People want their online purchases to be delivered quickly, and e-commerce companies are responding to this demand by introducing same-day courier options for their customers.

This competitive delivery landscape makes it essential for companies to optimise their last-mile logistics and provide their customers with faster, more efficient, and customer-focused delivery options. Drive Yello is one such service provider that can help your business streamline the delivery process while reducing costs and driving customer satisfaction. Drive Yello does this by making it possible to book couriers for shifts and choose vehicle types, increasing efficiency and reducing costs.

Contactless delivery

The pandemic has led to a surge in customers looking for contactless delivery services. Last-mile delivery providers have consequently embraced contactless delivery features like digital payments, Electronic Proof of Delivery or e-POD software, and delivery notifications. With this trend likely to continue, companies should incorporate contactless delivery options to ensure the safety of both customers and delivery agents.

Easy returns/exchanges

With the increase in e-commerce shopping, so too has there been an increase in the number of returns. In 2022, many companies have offered their customers free return or exchange options. To execute customer returns, it is critical to devise an effective reverse logistics plan to improve business sustainability, reduce logistical expenses, and increase customer retention.

Keeping this in mind, Drive Yello now offers a return option to retailers. This feature can be used to allow customers to returns through the platform. Once a return is filed, a courier is sent to pick up the products and return them to the store, this may include clothing items that the customer wants to return or medical scripts that need to be sent to the pharmacy.

Smart tracking with location intelligence

In 2022, last-mile logistics companies used delivery updates and real-time tracking to inform customers exactly when their orders would arrive. These technology features reduce the number of failed deliveries and ensure customers are kept up-to-date with the timing of their deliveries, improving the overall customer experience.

Drive Yello allows businesses to create a customised last-mile delivery solution that best suits their needs. The Drive Yello suite of services is designed to provide faster deliveries, smart tracking, regular updates, and increased visibility. Whatever the size and scale of your business, contact Drive Yello today to streamline your deliveries and increase customer satisfaction.

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