Final-Mile Delivery Explained: What You Need to Know
The most visible part of the buying experience is the product’s journey to the doorstep — final delivery.
Final deliveries ensure that people receive their goods with the appropriate levels of care. B2B customers and consumers alike are expecting those deliveries at increasingly faster speeds. Your final-mile deliveries can make or break your company’s reputation. A CapGemini survey found that an astounding 55 percent of customers would switch to a competitor if offered quicker deliveries, but 82 percent of satisfied customers have shared positive delivery experiences with their friends and families.
To stay ahead of the competition, you need to make your final mile as trouble-free as possible. Let’s break down some commonly asked questions about final-mile delivery.
What is final-mile delivery?
Final-mile delivery is the last step of the supply chain, where goods move from a warehouse or transportation hub to their ultimate destinations. Seamless final-mile deliveries are vital for customer satisfaction and retention. This delivery may be your only physical interaction with your customer, so it is an important opportunity to leave a positive impression. Companies with smooth deliveries in the final mile can stand out from the competition, receive better reviews and earn repeat business and more referrals.
Many companies don’t have the resources to handle final-mile deliveries themselves. Instead, more than 50 percent of retailers outsource last-mile deliveries to third-party logistics providers (3PLs), according to Forbes. 3PLs have the expertise, experience, resources and national footprint to efficiently get all your products settled in their new locations. A 3PL can do it all — streamline your shipping, simplify your logistics, strengthen the customer experience and improve your supply chain. Meanwhile, you can stay focused on your operations.
What accompanies final-mile delivery?
Despite the name, final-mile delivery is more than just the act of moving goods from one location to another. First, your logistics partner will receive the goods from a transportation hub and store them until you are ready to ship. Then, your provider will deliver the goods to their buyers. A 3PL offering installation services will even unpack everything, set up the products in their new locations, clean up any debris such as packaging and ensure that everything is in working order.
Instead of finding packages tossed haphazardly on their doorstep, your customers will receive end-to-end, white-glove service when you partner with a 3PL like Armstrong Relocation – Huntsville. By giving some extra attention to the final mile, your customers will have one less thing to worry about, and your brand will leave a positive impression on customers. Your final-mile partner will ensure that your customers experience the same exceptional service with every delivery.
How can my business leverage these services?
Outsourced final-mile deliveries are particularly common in the healthcare, hospitality, residential and retail industries. Outsourcing can save significant time and money for businesses that are remodeling or expanding their infrastructure. For example, when an international hotel chain began renovating its local properties, Armstrong Relocation – Huntsville provided relocation and final-mile services. Armstrong’s experts received newly purchased beds, equipment, furniture and decor for the hotel rooms and stored them in the Huntsville warehouse. Before delivering the items to their final destinations, the Armstrong team grouped and kitted the furnishings for each room to allow for speedy installations.
In other industries, such as healthcare, the deliveries of any new or relocated equipment also require the expert touch of a 3PL. Your final-mile partner can deliver, unpack, assemble and install complex healthcare equipment with efficiency and accuracy. In doing so, your 3PL partner allows your healthcare teams to maintain a high level of productivity and put new gear to work faster.
What should I look for in a final-mile partner?
Your final-mile partner should be a one-stop shop for all your delivery needs. Look for a provider that can work effectively across industries, delivering on time every time. Final-mile deliveries offer the opportunity to add personal touches to your supply chain, so your partner needs to maintain a commitment to reliable, professional service. Your partner should be as committed to your company’s success as you are.
At Armstrong Relocation – Huntsville, we have decades of experience providing stress-free deliveries for companies and their customers. We’ll go beyond the final mile and handle the end-to-end logistics of your delivery so you don’t have to. To learn more about Armstrong Huntsville’s final-mile services, call today at 256-772-6664.
