Not that long ago, distribution networks happily and conveniently operated through strategically-placed distribution centers, delivering, say, a pallet a month through LTL (less-than-truckload) carriers. Things might have seemed complex at the time, but there was no real thought about what could possibly happen next.
Now, many regional distribution centers (DCs) are being driven to try and take on the task of customized distribution services and customer delivery themselves. Why? Because of higher-than-ever customer service expectations and the increasing cost of using commercial carriers.
How Do I Know if I’m Becoming a Courier?
What about you? Ask yourself…
- Am I being forced to deliver orders within the local area of my distribution center?
- Am I concerned about giving my top customers poor courier service because I lack the tools the big commercial carriers have?
- Am I able to tell when a delivery will be a problem before it becomes a customer disaster?
If you answered “Yes” to any of those questions, you are probably a distributor becoming a courier, and this white paper on How to Overcome Last Mile Deliver Challenges shows you what this new landscape looks like.
How to Overcome “Last Mile” Delivery Challenges
It’s no longer enough to simply deliver packages from Point A to Point B. Regional distributors are discovering that “Last Mile” delivery expectations are higher than ever, and competing with UPS or FedEx as a “courier” requires matching their capabilities and implementing customized distribution services. Here’s a look at today’s delivery landscape, and at some of the capabilities that distributors-becoming-couriers need to implement to keep up.