The current market model demands fast and efficient deliveries. Meeting this demand contributes to customer loyalty, while delays and damage to products are detrimental to the company’s image.
One of the most critical phases of delivery is the “Last Mile”. The logistics of this final stage represent one of the biggest challenges for companies that intend to offer fast and efficient deliveries.
With consumers’ growing demand for shorter deadlines, lower costs and greater transparency, optimizing the last mile has become essential to meet customer demands and reduce operating costs.
So, what is “Last Mile Logistics”?
“Last Mile” refers to the final stage of transporting a product, from the distribution center to the final destination in the supply chain – whether it be the customer’s home or a collection point.
This final stage represents one of the most complex and costly parts of the supply chain, requiring innovative strategies to ensure efficiency and speed.
In the previous stages of the supply chain, there are large volumes of goods to be transported; the “last mile” is characterized by individual deliveries in urban areas or in hard-to-reach locations.
In a typical supply chain, products go through several stages: from sourcing and manufacturing to storage and transportation. The last mile is the final link in this chain, connecting the warehouse and the end customer.
Although it is the shortest route in the entire process, it plays an important role in the delivery experience; unlike other stages in the supply chain, the last mile interacts directly with the customer.
As the final stage before customers receive their orders, this is where consumers are most excited and have the highest expectations. This is the stage where customer satisfaction can be significantly impacted, making the last mile an important step for businesses to optimize and execute efficiently.
Therefore, ensuring that the last mile is efficient and reliable is essential to controlling costs and providing an exceptional delivery experience. A well-structured last mile can be decisive for customer loyalty and for the growth of the commercial relationship.
What are the steps before the “Last Mile”?
The last stage of the product logistics process is the “Last Mile”, which generally begins at the supplier’s warehouse and ends in the hands of the customer.
This process is usually divided into three stages: First Mile, Middle Mile and Last Mile Delivery.
First Mile: refers to the process of transporting a product from its point of origin to a warehouse, distribution center or collection center.
Middle Mile: corresponds to the transport of goods between a warehouse close to the point of origin and another close to the final destination.
These points aim to consolidate loads with similar destinations to be transported on larger means of transport in order to reduce transportation costs. At this stage, there may be more warehouses involved along the way with the same objective.
Last Mile: finally, the stage that refers to the last step of the logistics cycle; the process of sending goods to the end customer.
What are the steps before the “Last Mile”?
🚛 High operating costs – Delivery to the end consumer can represent more than 50% of the total shipping cost in a B2C supply chain, due to individual complexity and specific requirements.
⏳ Reduced delivery time – The need for same-day or next-day deliveries increases pressure on businesses.
📦 Managing high volumes – The growth of e-commerce has significantly increased the demand for fast deliveries.
🌍 Sustainability and carbon footprint – The need to reduce emissions requires greener solutions, such as electric fleets and route optimization.
Innovative Solutions for the “Last Mile“
✔ Automation and real-time tracking – The use of technology allows for greater transparency and efficiency in delivery.
✔ Electric vehicles and drones – Sustainable alternatives to reduce costs and carbon emissions.
✔ Urban hubs and smart lockers – Reducing distances and providing flexibility in order collection.
✔ Route optimization with Artificial Intelligence – Less time on the road and greater logistical efficiency.
Warelog offers efficient strategies to facilitate your business. Contact us and find out how we can improve your supply chain with highly efficient last mile solutions.
Contact us and find out how we can make your logistics more agile and competitive.
Sources:
MAERSK (2025). Closing the logistics loop with last-mile delivery. Retrieved March 12, 2025, from: https://www.maersk.com/logistics-explained/transportation-and-freight/2025/02/07/last-mile-delivery
TOTVS (2024). Last mile: o que é, como funciona e como otimizar. Retrieved March 12, 2025, from: https://www.totvs.com/blog/gestao-logistica/last-mile/
EMPREENDER (2024). Last mile: o que é e qual a importância desta etapa de entrega. Retrieved March 11, 2025, from: https://empreender.com.br/o-que-e-last-mile-e-importancia/
