By Rafikul Sk In the fast-paced and ever-changing outlook of urban logistics, last-mile delivery remains one of the most relevant aspects of the supply chain. Urban logistics has experienced a noticeable transformation over the past few years through technological changes and society’s mindset. As urban centres grow, e-commerce reaches new heights.
The technologies make last-mile deliveries faster and more efficient in urban logistics. Numerous logistic companies are working to make the supply chain even more efficient and innovative. As a result, various technologies and trends will make urban logistics easier in the future.
New Era: Transformation of urban logistics
The last-mile delivery in the supply chain management and transportation of urban logistics is extremely expensive since most customers are diverting towards an online mode of buying products.
The last-mile delivery magnitude is expected to increase by 75-80% by 2030. It symbolizes more requirements for delivery vehicles across the world for urban logistics.
Companies need help to keep rapidity with the orders due to a shortage of drivers.
Coming up Innovations in Urban Logistics
As time passes, new technologies and innovations are growing in the supply chain of urban logistics, and the Tata Signa 4018 has been playing a crucial role in this. However, some of the most vital techniques that will affect the terms of delivery and supply chain strategies from a business and environmental perspective are:
- Drone Delivery: Drones offer an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to modern delivery methods. They can deliver packages quickly and navigate congested urban environments.
- Autonomous Vehicles: Self-driven vehicles have emerged as a game changer in last-mile delivery. These autonomous cars or trucks can optimize operational costs, safety on urban roads, enhance efficiency, and reduces delivery time.
- Electric vehicles: The adoption of electric vehicles in urban logistics for last-mile delivery minimizes carbon emissions, less noise pollution, is good for the environment, and is more sustainable for urban logistics.
- Micro-fulfilment centres: In urban areas, localized fulfilment centres enable retailers to store inventory near the customers. This method minimizes carbon footprints associated with last-mile delivery, speeds up delivery time, and reduces distance with delivery expenses.
- Smart lockers: In urban cities, customers allow neighbours to pick up their packages at their end. So smart locker technology enhances security and reduces the chances of failed deliveries. This technology will lead to increasing customer satisfaction.
- Shared delivery hubs: Collaboration delivery hubs where multiple retailers pool their goods for joint last-mile delivery, As it reduces the number of delivery vans or vehicles on the roads. However, several retailers use a single Tata Signa 5525.S 4X2 truck for combined delivery of goods. As a result, it promotes environmental sustainability.
- Robotic Delivery Assistants: AI or Robotics devices can efficiently transport packages to customers’ doorsteps, avoiding traffic jams and boosting the contactless delivery experience.
These are some basic future technologies and strategies that affect E-commerce’s profitability.
What are technical challenges? How to overcome them
The usual attires facing urban logistics are well-known and typically in take the following:
- Traffic congestion: Heavy traffic slows down delivery vehicles, leading to delays and increased operational costs. To overcome this, companies can utilize real-time traffic data and carry more load at one time in heavy-duty trucks.
- Pollution and emission: Urban logistics contribute to air pollution and greenhouse gas emission. Promoting bicycles, electric vehicles, and hydrogen-fueled-based vehicles can reduce environmental impact.
- Last-Mile Delivery Challenges: Delivering packages to the final destination in dense urban areas is often challenging. Adopting micro-fulfilment centres, utilizing crowd-sourced delivery options, and using drones for last-mile delivery can improve efficiency.
- Integration of Emerging Technologies: Integrating new technologies like autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence into existing logistics systems requires careful planning and testing to ensure seamless operations.
- Safety-related challenges: Retailers face many accidents and traffic congestion risks, which affects time. To overcome this, monitoring real-time traffic and smart routing to optimize delivery routes. Encourage off-peak deliveries to ease traffic during peak hours. A well-coordinated approach involving stakeholders can enhance urban logistics safety.
Moreover, by overcoming the above challenges, we can achieve improvement in urban logistics. In the future generation, modernization will be the clothes of the citizens.
The ending thoughts
The last-mile delivery innovation has transformed urban logistics significantly. Electric vehicles, autonomous technologies, delivery robots, and micro-fulfilment centres are some solutions to overcome these challenges. As the urban population continues to grow, the pursuit of continuous innovation remains vital to meet the future’s evolving demands of last-mile delivery. In the coming time, goods delivery will be easier than now. As we all know, in the world rising, time is the most precious thing for an individual, so people will choose the easier path rather than time-consuming things. To make this happen, all the challenges mentioned earlier have to be followed.