informed and in control of their deliveries . Last-mile providers offering delivery options through their mobile app will further increase customer convenience and satisfaction . By allowing customers to modify their delivery times , locations or delivery instructions , providers can better accommodate changing customer schedules and needs . This helps carriers provide seamless and satisfying delivery experiences .
Raman : Shippers expect total order visibility and instantaneous customer service on-demand . Meeting these expectations is an operational and tech problem . How will you configure your staff to use your systems to enable this ? The carriers that can meet these expectations will earn more business .
CLDA Mag : What technology solutions will be introduced in 2025 ?
Jagad : In 2025 , we anticipate introducing intelligent route optimization technologies . These will allow last-mile providers to evaluate and compare multiple route planning strategies and automatically select the best option based on specific delivery requirements such as orders , route availability constraints , and real-time data . This AI-powered solution will assess delivery patterns in particular locations such as dense urban areas , remote , rural locations , or routes along major highways or interstates . They will optimize planning to ensure the fastest and most cost-effective delivery routes . This technology will also help maximize the use of in-house assets by prioritizing available internal resources before assigning deliveries to third-party carriers . These often come with higher costs and lower margins . This strategic decision-making capability will enable providers to improve operational e ! ciency and profitability while better managing the complexities of last-mile logistics .
CLDA Mag : What will we see in technology that we haven ’ t seen before , and why will it become an essential tool for last-mile providers ?
Jagad : Generative AI technologies will continue to advance . A vital part of that evolution will include their ability to comprehend and process the context of human-generated data such as emails , text messages , documents , and other forms of communication . They will then be able to transform this information into structured data sets compatible with various systems such as order management , delivery platforms , ERP systems , and billing systems . This capability will streamline manual input or import of customer order information . This will create workflow e ! ciencies by reducing the time customer service teams spend on order processing , shipment details , or payment alerts received through various channels . Integrating data from multiple sources and offering actionable insights and recommendations will make AI solutions even more essential to last-mile logistics providers .
Providers that invest in technologies to optimize data handling and operational e ! ciency will move closer to achieving fully autonomous , self-healing , and self-learning platforms . That will enable them to respond to customer needs more quickly and e ! ciently .
CLDA Mag : What technology solutions will become outmoded in 2025 ?
34 customized logistics & delivery Magazine I fall / winter 2024