As we enter the last quarter of 2023 , now is the time for you as a carrier to step back and evaluate how you did in 2023 and how to set yourself up for a successful 2024 . As we close out the year and carriers try to settle into post-pandemic normalcy , there are five trends in the last-mile sector that we have identified for carriers to consider .
The last-mile delivery market continues to grow at more than 20 % annually , which puts it on pace to reach a value of $ 121.1 billion by 2030 . Many factors drive that growth , including the explosion of ecommerce and consumers ’ widely held expectation that just about anything can and should be delivered to their doorsteps . And that only means one thing for carriers : you can ’ t meet this demand without the proper technology . The methods that ran your business previously must be updated to keep up with the increasing demands of your customers , or you will risk falling behind .
The opportunity is enormous in a market like this , but it comes with a requirement to find new efficiencies , make better tech decisions and get the most out of both people and processes . Here are the five trends we are forecasting to be of critical importance to last-mile carriers in 2024 :
Carriers with better technology will survive and thrive
Certain technology features in last-mile delivery are now musthaves for any carrier . This includes real-time visibility , proof-of-delivery , predictive ETA and consistent customer communication . These are not shiny features to tout . These are the basics , and carriers must implement them ( if they haven ’ t already ) in 2024 .
You can ’ t waste miles as carriers – you expect any system to optimize your routes . Carriers employing the right tech can save 15-30 % of mileage with a robust routing optimization solution . Customers also want real-time updates , so your technology must be enabled for clear and prompt communication regarding delivery status , along with real-time tracking systems so the customers can check on their own whenever they want .
End-to-end carriers are the new standard
Traditionally , carriers have utilized delivery technology in a silo , but in today ’ s ecommerce landscape , changing consumer habits now require carriers to broaden their horizons and utilize technology that spans up and down their networks . No carrier wants to provide only one service to their customers because the risk is too great . Shippers are looking for carriers that can offer more than one flavor of transportation service . This is where being an end-
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