electric or hybrid vehicles - as a part of their commitment to reducing carbon emissions . This trend is exemplified by cases like Nationex ’ s acquisition of CurrentPlus in Canada .
Several new delivery start-ups are racing to serve the growing market . Companies like Sweden ’ s Urb-it , Germany ’ s Liefergrun , the UK ’ s Zedify and Packfleet , and New York-based DutchX are all tapping into retailers ’“ green delivery ” needs . Collectively , zero-emission delivery startups have raised around $ 1Bn so far .
Electric vehicles ( EVs ), however , bring about a new set of variables for dispatchers to consider . EV routes must account for battery life and range , charging station location and availability , charging time , air temperatures and elevation gradients . The routing software carriers use today must therefore be able to accommodate these new constraints .
• Technology Investment
Logistics carriers are making substantial investments in upgrading their technological capabilities , introducing advanced solutions to streamline and enhance the entire shipping journey from order placement to delivery . With different service levels and delivery methods on offer , carriers are adapting to meet a variety of customer preferences . Carriers are also investing in real-time visibility tools that track shipments from order to delivery , tools that help enhance the customer delivery experience efficiently and at low cost .
• Big Data Management , Advanced Analytics & Modeling
Big data management and analytics are emerging as essential tools in the last-mile logistics sector .
Carriers are harnessing the power of data and the actionable insights that they provide to optimize various aspects of their processes and services . Advanced analytics and modeling ( often broadly referred to as AI / ML ), driven by big data , are becoming integral to operations , enhancing everything from route planning and delivery scheduling to sustainability tracking and transportation visibility . Carriers are leveraging data-driven insights to make informed decisions , accelerate and automate processes to drive efficiency , and improve the quality of their services .
The increasing appetite for advanced analytics is a significant part of this technological transformation . According to a Gartner survey , advanced analytics ranked among the top two emerging technology investments for supply chains , with only 9 % of supply chain organizations reporting no plans to invest .
Advanced analytics plays a crucial role in helping logistics carriers optimize various aspects of last-mile delivery , such as vehicle routing and scheduling , where analytics makes use of historical data , real-time traffic updates , and delivery constraints to devise efficient routes . This not only reduces human interaction , travel time and fuel consumption but also ensures the most effective utilization of delivery vehicles .
Additionally , analytics helps carriers track and reduce their carbon emissions . By scrutinizing environmental factors like distance traveled for each delivery , fuel consumption and vehicle emissions , carriers can spot areas for improvement and incorporate greener practices into their last-mile deliveries . fall 2023 I customized logistics & delivery Magazine 17