THE LAST MILE, A KEY FACTOR IN E-COMMERCE IN MEXICO

It is likely that in recent years you have heard or read several times about the boom and the challenges they have faced in the last mile, the success factor in e-commerce in Mexico, learn more about it.

The last mile is the term used in commerce to define the last process of delivering an e-commerce order to the end customer. It's the last link in the logistics chain for the product to reach the final consumer, making it a double-edged sword for companies.

Just as it can be the success factor and the differentiator from the competition because of its prompt delivery and for meeting delivery expectations and having satisfied customers; it can also be a reason why a customer never makes a purchase again, due to late deliveries or logistical problems, and in extreme cases, the company's bad reputation.
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‍WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE LAST MILE?

Warehouse management is one of the main challenges within the last mile, since you must maintain adequate inventory in warehouses close to customers, and this is often difficult to achieve due to the scarce supply of space within cities and the high demand for e-commerce.

Vertical warehouses are beginning to be on the Asian continent and around the world they will continue to be the new technological tool that revolutionizes the future of the last mile.

“In Mexico and Latin America, we will still not see them in the short term, but it is a trend, the most innovative that has occurred in recent years, in the industrial logistics market. Vertical warehouses are the future of logistics and distribution, their implementation will represent a transformation of supply chains.” (Erick Brunett in The Economist, 2023, para. 12)

It is not so common to see them because they are atypical and very expensive constructions in terms of robotic structures and inventory management software that are complex; so if someone builds it, they must amortize it as soon as possible because it is an atypical property and more difficult for anyone to want it.

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STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE YOUR LAST-MILE DISTRIBUTION

Regardless of whether the company specializes in last-mile deliveries or is only part of its services, there must be a strategy for this service, whether it is planning routes, setting different deadlines in its online sales, etc.

Here are some strategies if you want your last mile service to be successful:

• Use of technology and the cloud
• Fleet management and route planning
• Last-mile control and management
• Tracking the product until delivery in real time
• Service quality measurement
• Continuous improvement in customer experiences
• Precision in sub-processes
• Constant communication between the company, transport and the customer
• Have a problem-solving plan
• Diversity in delivery methods

As we continue to move forward in the digital era, it is imperative that the last-mile industry evolves by finding a balance between efficiency, convenience and sustainability, in order to ensure a future in which the last mile is a harmonious and beneficial component of our globalized society.

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